In honour of the late Frederik ‘Freddy’ Matheson, Thorold Minor Baseball is launching a ‘Play Ball Fund’ to financially assist families in need so that their kids can make it onto the field.
“I really hope it’ll knock down some barriers,” says the president of Thorold Minor Baseball, Chris Green, in an interview with ThoroldToday. “We want to make sure that if there are folks and they want to play, then we’ll find a way to get them on the diamond.”
Freddy Matheson, also known as 'Mr. Baseball,' was an active volunteer in the local community, who sadly passed away on Sept. 24, at age 57.
During his 15-year tenure as the president of Thorold Minor Baseball, Matheson strengthened the league and always made sure to promote the game in Thorold.
“He was always a huge advocate to get as many kids in Thorold playing baseball,” Green says. “I know that there were some families that came to him and said: ‘Can we break this up in multiple payments?' There were times he said: ‘Let’s get the kids on the field, we’ll sort it out later.’ We want to be able to do something like that and use this to help offset some of it.”
The ‘Fred Matheson Play Ball Fund’ is able to allocate up to $300 per family in need of financial assistance, for registration fees or equipment costs.
“We’ve got about $2,500 right now to help support this,” says Green. “Its the first year we’re doing it so we’ll see how many community members need that support and then we’ll evaluate from there. I know there are some other folks who want to give donations to help build this pool.”
It’s no coincidence that the minor baseball league is launching the fund now, as they are gearing up for a new season.
“We’re very close,” Green says. “We’re in the middle of distributing who is on what team and getting the coaches ready with coaches meetings and all that stuff.”
Seeing the kids play on the field this season will be a lasting reminder of Matheson’s legacy, according to Green.
“We have a Fred Matheson patch on every single jersey that we wear this year, in memory of him,” he says. “It’ll be neat. He was a great guy and we miss him.”
To apply to the 'Fred Matheson Play Ball Fund' head over the league's website. Applications close April 30.
