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Hensville project to land Downtown in 2016

By
Joel Sensenig
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Work has begun on the three long-vacant buildings that will become Hensville, a retail, dining, recreational and residential space planned for St. Clair Street near Fifth Third Field. A parking lot across the street from these buildings will become a park. Toledo Free Press photo by Christie Materni

Beginning next season, Toledo baseball fans won’t have to drive to the Windy City to watch a ballgame from atop a building overlooking a stadium.

Work has begun on the three long-vacant buildings that will become Hensville, a retail, dining, recreational and residential space planned for St. Clair Street near Fifth Third Field. A parking lot across the street from these buildings will become a park. Toledo Free Press photo by Christie Materni

That uniquely Chicago experience will become part of the Toledo Mud Hens experience in 2016 with the introduction of Hensville, a $21 million project bringing dining, retail, office and recreational space to the area beyond right field at Fifth Third Field. Demolition and power work has already started on the project, which will rehabilitate three long-vacant buildings and a parking lot on St. Clair Street.

The project — set to debut to the public in March 2016, prior to Opening Day — is meant to evoke feelings of Wrigleyville, the festive community of bars and restaurants surrounding Wrigley Field, the ivy-covered home of the Chicago Cubs.

But Joe Napoli, president and general manager of the Toledo Mud Hens and Toledo Walleye, is not simply aiming for a mirror image of that neighborhood.

“There will be some dining options, there will be some shopping options, there will be rooftop decks, just like across the street at Wrigley,” he told Toledo Free Press in March. “We’re also adding a park just beyond right field wall, with an acre of open space, for concerts, festivals and theater in the park — all of these things that encourage social interaction.”

Speaking on Hensville in April, Napoli said the project is part of a larger revitalization effort throughout the Warehouse District.

“We want to exceed that [Wrigleyville goal],” he said. “We look at the success in the Warehouse District, and we’re really pleased and proud of all of these small businesses and individuals that have rolled up their sleeves and invested in the district. The amount of sweat equity is immeasurable. We hope that this will be yet another catalyst for another round of investment in the district.”

The project is becoming reality due to funding from a variety of public and private entities. Hensville has received funding from the Lucas County Commissioners, City of Toledo, State of Ohio’s Capital Budget, the federal government and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation in Toledo (via PNC Bank and Foss & Company). Together, these sources of funding equal about $12 million. The Mud Hens are providing the remainder of the project total.

“It’s one of those public/private partnerships that works,” Napoli said. “These programs are run by the state and federal government because they want organizations to reinvest in the downtown/urban core. Without their commitment to invest those dollars, projects like this one will never happen.

“In order for this project to happen, we really needed [them] to be active participants,” Napoli said.

He believes the project will benefit many of the stadium’s neighbors. The Mud Hens and Walleye are already the main keys to bringing people Downtown, with estimates showing they draw a combined 750,000 visitors annually.

Napoli said measuring that economic impact is a necessity.

“All of those funding sources — they do come with strings attached,” he said. “We have to produce jobs, we have to produce economic benefit, and that gets tracked, and we’ll have to submit that to the funders.

“If we’re doing our jobs well, it will mean between another 100,000-150,000 visitors to Downtown, for concerts, festivals and recreational activities,” he said. “Which should mean more business for local bars and restaurants, more people moving into apartments and condos, and more small businesses moving into Downtown. We’ll be able to measure that over the next five years.”

McGinnis: Summer in the sun

By
Jeff McGinnis
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I played Little League baseball for a year in 1989.

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Anyone tempted to glance at their calendar and confirm that it is not still April Fools’ Day can go right ahead; I won’t be offended. I realize that I am not exactly the most athletic individual on the planet — an understatement on par with calling the Civil War a “slight disagreement” or the extinction of the dinosaurs a “minor inconvenience” —  but for one summer I was given the chance to put on the uniform and show what I could do on the glorious diamond where names like Ruth, DiMaggio and Mays had become legends.

Spoiler alert: I sucked.

I mean, really, really sucked. Couldn’t field, couldn’t hit, could barely run, and I would sometimes cry if something went wrong (which was often), in violation of Tom Hanks’ primary rule of baseball in “A League of Their Own.” Yet still I played, and had a position on the team the whole season, because apparently no kid who tried out that first year was denied. Whether you were the second coming of Mickey Mantle or, well, me, you were welcome on the team that summer.

I played for the entry-level Little League team in Luckey, Ohio. Whether we actually had a nickname is one of the many details from that fateful season that has been lost in my subconscious for over 25 years now, as if my brain has tried to shield my self-esteem from any evidence that my baseball career existed. I do remember our uniforms were a bright, obnoxious shade of yellow. Naturally, they didn’t have any that really fit me, save for one: No. 13. An ominous portent of the days to come.

I tended to play outfield, because that was where I could do the least damage defensively. I mean, even if the batter did manage to hit the ball past our infielders, there was only a 1-in-3 chance I would be the one it ended up heading toward. But go figure if it didn’t seem like every time that damn ball went sailing, it headed right in my direction. (I ascribe it to the natural gravitational pull I generate.)

Not once that entire summer did I make a catch. I came close one day, a moment of sheer joy as I magically ended up in the right position as the ball fluttered down into the waiting webbing of my glove, only to pop right out again, as if even the laws of gravity were conspiring against me.

More often I would go running after a hit as it scooted past my feet or over my head, finally catching up to the baseball after the runner had easily passed first or second, and tossing it back in with all the force I could muster — which usually meant the ball bounced about halfway up the outfield and then rolled feebly into our shortstop’s glove while the runner dusted himself off at third.

But however atrocious I was in the field, I made up for it by being even worse at bat. I don’t recall anyone keeping statistics for our league, and I am grateful, lest a sports hall of shame need evidence to induct me as the most inept player in history. I don’t have any memories of actually getting a hit, as being sat down on strikes or slapping weak grounders were the sum total of my offensive output. I do remember getting on base a few times, which I can only ascribe to either the opposing pitcher having an off day or my overactive imagination.

But here’s the thing: I still loved it. I mean, sure, I was horrible and had no business being on the diamond. But it was so much fun. I still have fond memories of hanging out with my friends, running around in the sun, the smell of my new baseball glove, the feel of the bat in my hands. Despite the near constant embarrassment I endured, I still looked forward to trying out for the team the next summer, only to learn that second-year players had to actually, well, be able to play.

The national pastime has long since been usurped by other games when it comes to fan base and passion. But I defy anyone to argue that any game is still tied to the American soul as closely as baseball. That’s why every spring I feel a smile in my heart as Opening Day approaches. And every now and then, I’ll drive by that same diamond in Luckey, and take a moment to remember my summer spent in the sun. That horrible, embarrassing, awkward, awful, wonderful summer. O

Jeff McGinnis is Pop Culture Editor at Toledo Free Press. He can be reached at [email protected].

Saying ‘I do’ to a ballpark wedding

By
Toledo Free Press
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Weddings have been held at Fifth Third Field since 2012. There are currently 12 booked this spring and summer. Photo Courtesy Toledo Mud Hens

Rachel Burgess was looking for a venue for her wedding when she met Angie Dixon.

“We went to a bridal show and Angie was at a booth and she gave us all the information, so we decided to go check it out,” Burgess said. “We loved it ­— loved the atmosphere of it.”

The venue Burgess had found was not one of the usual wedding haunts.

It’s Fifth Third Field.

As a Mud Hens fan, Burgess loved the venue so much she has decided to say her “I do” at Fifth Third Field on May 20, right at home plate.

The idea is actually not a new one. Weddings have been taking place at the ballpark since 2012 and they’ve grown so much that Dixon, who has been with the Mud Hens for nearly four years, gained a new title and now spends her workdays catering to weddings and other events.

The Mud Hens have launched a marketing campaign to encourage such nuptials and Dixon is a full-fledged champion of the movement. She has catered 25 weddings in the past three years.

“It’s been building momentum,” Dixon said. “Now this is my focus, on weddings. We’ve drummed up enough business for it to be its own standalone.”

Photo Courtesy Toledo Mud Hens

Fifth Third Field has several rooms available for weddings, including the BirdCage, which is indoors and seats 25-300 or The Roost on 4, which is available year-round and seats up to 200.

Prices, Dixon said, are middle of the road compared to other venues in the region, but usually it’s the baseball connection that attracts the brides and grooms. “Obviously, if you come down here to have a wedding you already have an investment in baseball. There’s a reason to come down here.”

To keep them coming, the Mud Hens offer special deals such as turning the couple’s deposit into ticket packages that can be given to wedding guests or used for the following season.

The ballpark also hosts wedding showers and receptions.

As an incentive to brides planning their weddings at the park,  a free room is offered for the shower at certain times, Dixon said.

“We’re very customized. We’re not the traditional banquet hall. We have a lot of flexibility that most places don’t,” she said. “We transform the ballpark; it ends up being an entire production.”

The word is spreading. A The Knot cover story on unique wedding venues in the state and featured Dixon’s brides and grooms.

People are even signing up for the venue while still out of the country, Dixon said. She worked with one bride living in Taiwan and Dixon planned her entire wedding for her via email and Skype.

That’s not unusual. Dixon currently has two brides who are in Florida. They’ve never seen the space but their parents are their local contacts. Dixon works with all the vendors they’ve hired and said her job is to keep everyone on the same page.

That’s exactly what she did for Kevin and Lynn Morrissey, who got married at Fifth Third Field on Nov. 2, 2013.

Kevin worked for the New York Yankees franchise at the time and was soon to be in Florida for training.

“Angie was super accommodating no matter what,” Kevin said. “We put it together quickly, too. We just happened to be home after we got engaged and I was in Florida the next few weeks for my job. On a whim we called her. We said, ‘We are only in for a weekend, is it possible to come in and see the venue?’ She said, ‘If you guys want to stop over.’ She walked us through and we saw everything.

“So we set up for an event. It worked out well,” Kevin said. “It’s why we picked that place. Lynn wanted a unique venue. Going in we knew we wanted something unique. This fell in our laps.”

The couple now lives in Pennsylvania, where Kevin works for a baseball analytics company.

Dixon’s first wedding this season is in May and she has 12 weddings booked for the spring/summer season. Two or three couples are booked for November and then the holiday party season starts.

The planned multimillion dollar Hensville development will allow the Mud Hens to expand their wedding facilities, Dixon said. The space across from the ball field, will include a banquet facility, rooftop terrace and bar.

No one else in Toledo has banquet and bar space attached to a rooftop terrace, Dixon said. “We’ve been talking about it for three years. Now that it’s tangible, it’s very exciting.”

Burgess said she picked the FifthThird Field because she just wanted to do something different.

Meanwhile, all the details are starting to come together, including place settings and the DJ and photographer. Planning her wedding through the Mud Hens has been a “very good experience,” Burgess said.

“People have asked whether it’s going to be formal or if they can wear shorts. It’s not an actual baseball game going on. It’s actually my wedding,” she said.

EyeCitizen, TPD crime map help residents track incidents

By
Ashley McMahon
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Area leaders are taking strides to ensure Toledo citizens are up-to-date on crime activity in their neighborhoods.

The Toledo Police Department (TPD) launched an interactive crime map in May 2014 and Toledo City Councilman Tom Waniewski released citywide access to EyeCitizen.org in June 2013.

Waniewski

Waniewski

While both resources allow Toledo residents to monitor criminal activity around their homes, each application is unique and offers its own alerts and customizations.

TPD’s crime map, found at crimemap.toledo.oh.gov, generates alerts based on reports that are filed for a designated area determined by the user, said TPD Public Information Officer Lt. Joe Heffernan.

This is different than calls for service, which is how alerts are generated for EyeCitizen.org, he said.

“Not every call for service is written up in a report. If you call 911 and say, ‘My neighbor’s dog is barking all night,’ EyeCitizen is going to send that to your phone if you’re signed up for their service,” Heffernan said. “An officer will arrive to the house and talk to the homeowner where the dog is barking, tell them to have their dog stop barking and will probably not write a report. This wouldn’t show up on the crime map.”

However, Waniewski’s EyeCitizen business partner Dave Bonitati clarified the service does not send “barking dog-type alerts.”

“We do send 911 alerts of a criminal nature such as ‘Person with a Gun or Knife,’ ‘Shots Fired,’ ‘Suspicions Person,’ etc. the type of 911 calls that neighbors would want to know about immediately,” Bonitati said.

TPD began using internal crime mapping in 2012 and launched a public access version two years later.

Users can enter a specific address on the map’s website and browse through all of the crimes reported within a half-mile radius during the past two months. In addition to browsing the site, users can sign up to receive email alerts. The map is refreshed three times a day, at the 6 a.m., 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. shift changes.

The public map cost $6,200 to develop through Dayton-based Optica Consulting, the same company that developed TPD’s internal mapping system.

Since its launch last year, citizens are using the service and TPD has been receiving a great response from the community, Heffernan said.

“It’s a very useful tool for someone who wants to monitor the crime activity in their neighborhood and keep track of the reports that are actually written,” he said.

The TPD crime map also allows citizens to submit a tip through a button on the map’s website. In addition, citizens can send a tip to police through the department’s Facebook page by sending the department a message.

EyeCitizen.org is a private service that offers crime alerts generated through 911 calls into TPD.

Waniewski created the service with Bonitati in 2012. He began beta testing the service in his district after discovering a desire for a crime alert service while attending a neighborhood block watch meeting in Old Orchard.

“Residents of Old Orchard were concerned about why they didn’t know why things were happening in their area,” Waniewski said.

As a result, he took action and began developing the crime alert database.

One example of how EyeCitzen helps residents is a member who watches children at a day care in her home, Bonitati said.

“She said she appreciates the EyeCitizen alerts, especially when there is someone with a gun or shots fired in her neighborhood because she quickly gets the kids into the house and out of harm’s way,” Bonitati said. “That’s the value of EyeCitizen, making neighborhoods alert and vigilant at the time of the potential danger.”

Waniewski and Bonitati paid the initial costs for research and development and launched EyeCitizen for District 5 in 2012. In June 2013, City Council approved $50,000 in funding to expand the service citywide.

However, the vote was taken before many Council members were aware of Waniewski’s connections and 1 percent stake in the company. As a result, Waniewski and Council determined it would be best if the city did not use taxpayer money to pay for the service.

“To avoid any controversy, I talked my business partners into providing the service for free to the entire city. So there was never anything spent by the city for EyeCitizen,” Waniewski told TFP in an email. “We decided to pay for it by seeking community sponsorships. Vito’s, Fry Heating and Habitec are keeping it free for residents.”

Toledoans can sign up for the service in up to three areas of interest. They receive alerts based on 911 calls made whenever a crime against property or people occurs within their monitoring area. Citizens can sign up for the service at eyecitizen.org.

“We don’t want anyone going out to stop a crime. We just want to be an extra pair of eyes for the police department,” Waniewski said. “We want to let the police department do their job. They’re the professionals, but whenever there’s a crime occurring, we need witnesses. We need to hear from the community: ‘What did you see?’”

There are currently about 10,000 users signed up for the service, Waniewski said.

Bonitati said he thinks EyeCitizen is helping reduce crime in the city.

“[Toledo Police] Chief [George] Kral reported that crime is down almost 20 percent in Toledo,” Bonitati said. “We believe we are having an effect. We envision a time when the majority of all neighborhoods will have EyeCitizen, then when an EyeCitizen alert is sent, all neighbors in that area will turn on their porch light, look out the window or even call their neighbors. A criminal will not want to stick around in an area knowing the neighborhood is alert and aware of a criminal in their neighborhood.”

 

 

Retirement Guys: Hope for a new season (of life)

By
Mark Clair & Nolan Baker
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If you know me (Mark) very well, you know that I am a big sports fan and a lifelong fan of all Detroit sports teams, especially the Detroit Tigers. This is obvious when you come into my office, sit down and look up at the wall and notice the many framed photos of me and some of my boyhood Tigers heroes like Willie Horton and Mickey Lolich.  These photos were obtained for my 50th birthday when my wife Lisa sent me to the Detroit Tiger Fantasy Camp for one of the most fun and thrilling times of my life.

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I got to hang out with some former Tiger players, who served as my coaches as I played baseball with fellow Tigers fans ranging in age from 21 up into their 80s. What a fun time, even though on the second day I blew out a hamstring running to first base.

I was speaking at a Retirement Guys public workshop that we hold periodically and mentioned how I used to love playing some serious softball in my younger days. I talked about how I loved playing on a team, hanging out with the fellas and doing my best to help win the game. A guy by the name of Fritz came up to me afterward and told me I ought to consider playing in the Sylvania Senior Softball League.

I expressed to Fritz my reservations about being too old and fat and not being able to run. He told me not to worry about it and that I would do just fine. I was not so sure. I was so scared about being able to function on the field that after I made the decision to “make a comeback,” I hired a personal trainer to get me to the point that I could survive. I lost 25 pounds of fat and gained 10 pounds of muscle at last check, and yes, I survived the first season after a 21-year layoff, even though I blew out that dreaded hamstring. It was a fun time and I was really impressed with how organized the league is and how good the players are at 50 and older.

Many of the players are older than 60 and a lot of these guys are still hitting the ball over the fence and motoring around the bases. At 52, I felt a lot of these older guys were running circles around me. Our Fricker’s #3 team started out 4-1, but then sadly lost five in a row. Our hopes for the title went down with our losing streak.

The great thing about baseball though is that there is always hope for next year.  And next year is here! Spring has sprung and it is time to get ready for a new season.

My Tigers have won the first two games of the year and the season starts soon for The Retirement Guys softball team, since we are sponsoring a team this year. Our team will play on Thursday nights at Pacesetter Park in Sylvania, so come on out and root us to victory. If you want to come see me play, starting May 7, I will be playing on Thursdays at either 6:15 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.

So what does all of this have to do with retirement planning, you ask? We are a big believer in enjoying every phase of life. Especially retirement.

Maybe it is time for you to explore a new career, or make a comeback. It’s not too late to do something. Figure out what it is and go for it. Fun and quality of life are what we are all about and you should be, too.

One last thing: My friend Marty called me and left me a voicemail.  He said, “Mark, I got us on the same team this year.  I had to trade for you, though.” I about died laughing when I heard that. I hope he did not trade more than a 10th-round draft pick or some stale Peeps from his Easter basket. What a riot. Play ball!

For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in every Saturday at 1 P.M. on 1370 WSPD or visit www.retirementguysnetwork.com.

Swamp Shop stocked with gear for fans

By
Ashley McMahon
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The Mud Hens’ popular annual ‘Star Wars’ Night is set for May 9. About 90 percent of Mud Hens merchandise in the swamp shop is new each year. Photos courtesy Toledo Mud Hens.

As fans sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” within the cozy confines of Fifth Third Field, they may want to get decked out in some snazzy apparel from the Toledo Mud Hens’ Swamp Shop.

The Mud Hens’ popular annual ‘Star Wars’ Night is set for May 9. About 90 percent of Mud Hens merchandise in the swamp shop is new each year. Photos courtesy Toledo Mud Hens.

Toledo’s baseball team is debuting plenty of brand-new merchandise for the 2015 season, said Craig Katz, director of merchandising and licensing.

“Every season, about 90 percent of our store is brand-new merchandise, the other 10 to 20 percent is what we consider our core items,” Katz said. “That includes our best sellers — the products our fans expect to see every year.”

The Swamp Shop’s new items include a collection of sleek hooded sweatshirts, fan-friendly T-shirts and fashion-forward baseball hats for women.

The Mud Hens purchase licensed minor league merchandise from Nike, Bimm Ridder Sportswear, Under Armour, ’47 Brand and more to stock its store, which can also be accessed from outside the ballpark at 406 Washington St. During home games, fans can also peruse the goods in the Hen Hut, a smaller version of the Swamp Shop located behind home plate inside Fifth Third Field.

Katz and his team perform extensive research in the offseason to discover new trends. These determine the new styles that enter the Swamp Shop for the upcoming season.

Katz said fans of all ages can find items that suit their fancy. The Swamp Shop caters to the team’s entire fan base, a diverse group.

“We serve infants all the way up to retirees, both women and men,” he said.

The Mud Hens have a large fashion line for women as well as an extensive children’s line.

“We’re one of the few teams in minor league baseball that gives so many choices for women and kids,” Katz said. “Very rarely will someone walk out of our store and say, ‘You don’t have what I want.’ If we don’t have the exact items, someone can find something similar.”

And while the tees and hats hold their own on the best-sellers list, it’s the Mud Hens’ beloved mascots, Muddy and Muddonna, that inspire the most popular item inside the store.

“The plastic orange Muddy calling whistle is our most popular item in the store,” Katz said. “We will sell 5,000 of those every year.”

In addition to the whistles and apparel, this year fans can expect to see a few special items honoring the Hens’ 2015 promotions.

On May 9, the Mud Hens celebrate “Star Wars” night. During this game, the Swamp Shop will sell three special “Star Wars”-themed T-shirts, available in sizes infant to adult.

In addition, the Mud Hens will team up with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Aug. 6 for Bacon & Eggs night. During the game, both teams will wear special jerseys, which will be available for purchase inside the Swamp Shop.

The Swamp Shop is open year-round 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and during baseball season, noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Fans can also shop online at www.mudhens.com.

OMGLiterallyDead: Instagram skeleton takes Internet by storm

By
Jeff McGinnis
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Dana Herlihey with Skellie. Photo courtesy Dana Herlihey

On the surface, she’s like many other young women posting photos to social media. She loves coffee. She takes shots of her daily outfit. She playfully poses under the covers. She posts embarrassing old pictures. Really, she leads a fairly typical life. Or at least she would, if she were … well, alive.

Dana Herlihey with Skellie. Photo courtesy Dana Herlihey.

She is Skellie, and she is literally just a plastic novelty skeleton. But she is also the star of OMGLiterallyDead, an Instagram account that has skyrocketed in popularity over the past few months. Currently over 250,000 followers keep up with Skellie’s daily exploits.

The character is the brainchild of Dana Herlihey, a social media manager from Toronto.

“The concept came on a whim,” Herlihey said in an interview with Toledo Free Press. “A plastic, poseable skeleton arrived at work one day as a gag Halloween decoration. My coworkers took to it, posing it in each other’s chairs.

“One day I took a photo of the skeleton drinking from a Starbucks cup. The next day, I dressed it in my cardigan and toque. I found the voice for Skellie came to me naturally when doing this, so I made an Instagram account dedicated to this skeleton. It all kind of snowballed from there.”

“Snowballed” is one way to put it. “Avalanched” is another. Only about six months have passed since that first Starbucks photo was posted, and Skellie has blossomed into a full-fledged Internet phenomenon.

“I was walking home from work one day thinking of all these hilarious ideas for the skeleton. I realized that I was becoming pretty passionate about the little hobby project I had going and that there must be potential in that.”

The process for taking a Skellie photo (a “skelfie”) can be as simple or as complicated as you might imagine, Herlihey said. She now has four skeletons to work with (she’s going to buy her fifth shortly) and many of the best concepts come to her on a whim.

“Photo ideas can come up quite naturally. I’m watching ‘Friends’ on Netflix all day, well, why not Skellie? I’ll pose her, take a quick photo, and write a caption on the spot.”

Other posts take planning.

“Skellie can be a bit fickle to pose sometimes, so the real behind-the-scenes secret is that sometimes her arm is tied, or someone is crouching on the floor holding her legs,” she said.

In addition to Instagram, Skellie now has accounts on Twitter and Facebook, and a website (www.omgliterally dead.com) complete with online store. The pair are headed back to New York for the April 20 Shorty Awards, where OMGLiterallyDead is nominated for Best Instagram Account.

“Mindy Kaling is our competition, so win or lose, I’m really honored and excited about the show,” Herlihey said.

Summer camps let Hens players connect with kids

By
Ashley McMahon
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The Mud Hens host a number of camps for kids ages 7-14 and a special needs camp open to all ages. Photo courtesy Toledo Mud Hens

Baseball season is finally here. America’s favorite pastime brings warmly welcomed mild weather, nights filled with fireworks and plenty of smiling Toledoans to Fifth Third Field to watch their beloved Mud Hens.

The Mud Hens host a number of camps for kids ages 7-14 and a special needs camp open to all ages. Photo courtesy Toledo Mud Hens

Along with the action-packed International League games, the “world famous” minor league team hosts a plethora of summer camps for area youth.

Emily Croll, special events coordinator for the Mud Hens, is entering her fourth year as camp leader and said these camps are a mainstay for young baseball lovers.

“We’ve maintained them because they’ve been very steady and very popular,” she said. “We have people who call in every year and specifically ask for these camps. With these, we’ve found we have a lot of success in keeping them constant.”

Most of the camps are offered to children ages 7-14, which allows youth to attend for a number of years, developing their skills on the field along the way.

The programs include a one-day camp, an adult-child camp, a three-day camp and a special needs camp, which is open to all ages.

All of the camps are coed and are hosted by the Mud Hens players inside Fifth Third Field. As an added bonus, all of the campers get a ticket to attend the game on the evening of the camp.

“They get to come to camp in the morning, the Mud Hens players are running it and then they get to attend the game at night and get to see guys playing who they had just hung out with in the morning,” Croll said.

The camps are a popular with the team as well as area youth and many players look forward to participating in the action.

“We put up sign-up sheets for a lot of these events and we never have a problem filling these events. Especially the special needs camps,” Croll said.

“The guys love coming out and being with the kids,” she said. “It brings them back. They remember that this is how they started. At some point there was someone that made them love baseball, so this is a good opportunity for them to share that love with other kids and be a kid for a morning.”

Over the years, the camps’ popularity has continued to rise, attracting large numbers to each event. The one-day and three-day camps have about 150-175 participants and the adult-child camp has about 200 participants. The special needs camp has experienced the most growth, according to Croll.

“Three years ago, it had 50 participants and last year there were close to 100 participants,” she said.

The Hens’ partnership with the Miracle League of Northwest Ohio helped build the camp’s attendance, Croll said.

The one-day camp is open to youth ages seven to 14 and costs $50 to attend. It takes place May 23.

There are two three-day camps, open to kids ages 7-14. These cost $140 and take place on July 8-10 and August 4-6. Lunch is served each day and the game ticket is for the final night of camp on each session.

On the last day of the three-day camp, there is a skills competition, a scrimmage and an awards ceremony.

“With the three-day camp, you get to know the campers a little more because you’re seeing them for three straight days,” Croll said. “You get to see their personality a little more and they really open up by the third day.”

The adult-child camp is open to kids ages 7-14 and one parent. This costs $80 for the pair and takes place July 18.

“You see a lot of really excited parents,” Croll said. “Whether you’re an adult or a child, getting to play on a professional level playing field with professional players is always cool. It’s really fun to see the parents and children interact together along with the players.”

The special needs camp is open to all ages and costs $25. It takes place June 20.

Participants with any type of special need are welcome to participate. It’s a time for them to come out and have fun, Croll said. It’s the least skills-specific camp and the participants get a chance to play with the Mud Hens players.

“The Mud Hens pitch to them, we do a scrimmage where everyone gets to bat,” Croll said. “We even added an aspect where they get to play from home plate and we announce them. They come up to home plate, and we announce who’s at bat and we do a live shot of them on the big video board and they get to do an at-bat against the Mud Hens player.

“The special needs camp has always been my favorite,” she said. “Some of these kids come every year. We get to know these families and we do not have any age limit for that one. It’s been really great to see families who a lot of times have stress outside of this just come and forget that for a day.

“They get to come hang out, the players are always super awesome with them and having them come to the game afterwards has been really great, to see it grow the way it has.”

Along with the Mud Hens game ticket, each camp registration includes a camp T-shirt and a baseball signed by the player that hosted the camp.

Participants are urged to register at least one week in advance; they can do so online at mudhens.com/camp or by calling (419)-725-HENS.

Croll said the best aspect of the summer camps is the one-on-one interaction participants get with the players.

“I know a lot of people look at the Mud Hens and say, ‘Well, they’re not quite professionals, they’re not big leagues.’

“But especially in our three-day camp, we have a lot of times where a player may work camp two days and then he gets called to the Tigers the third day and isn’t even there,” she said.

“So these kids are getting a chance to say, ‘Man, that guy was showing me how to bat yesterday and now he’s playing with the Tigers.’ For us that’s been really awesome.”

Parrish optimistic about this year’s crop of talent

By
Toledo Free Press
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Larry Parrish is returning at the Mud Hens’ helm. Photo courtesy Toledo Mud Hens

Toledo loves its Mud Hens, and the city is ready to welcome back the team and its veteran skipper, Larry Parrish.

Parrish has seen some ups and downs in his time in the Fifth Third Field dugout, but he is optimistic about this season despite some early question marks regarding his starting pitching rotation. The questions are especially relevant since Toledo’s big league affiliate, the Detroit Tigers, are beginning the season a man short.

“The starting pitching is a little up in the air right now, with the [Justin] Verlander injury,”  Parrish said.

Additionally, Mud Hen pitcher and Tigers prospect Drew VerHagen will start the year on the disabled list.

Still, Parrish has seen enough from his team this spring to give him hope.

“The bullpen looks solid right now. It seems to be a much better bullpen than we had last year.”

For his position players, Parrish said he is looking forward to seeing some of them return for a second year in Toledo to hone their skills and move up to the next level.

“[Steven] Moya is dealing with plantar fasciitis with his ankle, but we’ve got [Dixon] Machado, [Jefry] Marte at third. For the outfield, we still had a lot of these guys last year, and hopefully they do well and improve in their second year.”

The Hens recently received some additional depth behind home plate when Detroit assigned Bryan Holaday to catching duties in Toledo following spring training. Holaday bore a heavy load as the Tigers’ backup catcher last season, especially during starting catcher Alex Avila’s injury troubles.

Former Mud Hen James McCann has moved up to take Holaday’s place in Detroit.

“We’re really happy with the catching,” Parrish said. “Our catching last year with McCann was very good, and now we have Holaday, who is a guy who is known to work with a pitching staff very well.”

Parrish said Hens catcher Manny Piña should not be overlooked, either.

“Piña is a guy who can throw — I mean, he can really throw — so for catching, we’re very strong. That’s a position we have some depth at right now.”

Parrish said he can foresee McCann contributing at the big league level, especially after getting a good glimpse of his abilities in Toledo last season.

“He was always highly regarded as a catch and throw guy, and his bat is getting better and better. He is a really hardworking kid. He’s knocking on the door to be a regular big league catcher.”

Parrish also spoke optimistically about Moya’s potential, once he returns from the disabled list.

“He had super numbers last year at AA,” Parrish said. “He’s a super strong kid, and when he hits it, it goes a long way.

“But he’s also a very big kid, and those long levers that give him big pop also create some holes for pitchers to throw at, so he may have to go through a little bit of a learning curve before he gets to the big league. … But then again, he might not — you just never know.”

Parrish said neither he nor longtime Mud Hens hitting coach Leon “Bull” Durham plan on trying to shorten Moya’s swing to possibly cut back on strikeouts while sacrificing power.

“That’s not his game,” Parrish said. “He’s going to be one of those guys that hits it out of the ballpark 30-plus times and drives you in runs.”

Parrish said he is happy with the mix of player types on his roster this year, on both sides of the ball.

“We’ve got a couple different type players,” he said. “[Infielder Dixon] Machado has always been able to play defense, but he started to put up some numbers last year.”

Rounding out the team this year is minor league veteran Mike Hessman. The big man has had several stints with the Hens during his extensive career, and many of his all-time minor league record 417 career home runs came in a Toledo uniform.

The 37-year-old Hessman has seen plenty of the ups and downs minor league players endure while trying to reach the big leagues, and his presence is enough to inspire younger players around him.

“That’s a guy who leads by example,” Parrish said of Hessman. “He shows up to work every day, plays hurt, and you know what he’s going to do. He’s going to hit the ball out of the ballpark.”

Parrish, a two-time major league All Star during his own playing career, also acknowledged the significance of Hessman’s home run record.

“That’s a lot of home runs, no matter where you’re playing.”

With the regular season kicking off, Parrish is ready to compete, though he has not noticed a clear favorite among International League teams so far.

“You have no way of knowing,” he said. “In spring training, we only see about three other clubs.”

Despite the uncertainty that looms in the air on every Opening Day, there is always something to focus on and anticipate, Parrish said.

“I think you look forward every year to guys getting better, and hopefully get into the playoff picture. We want to play some extra games at the end of the year.” O

Gallery owner calling for mural designs

By
Erin Holden
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Sixteen designs will be chosen for a series of mini-murals on the Davis Building garage door next to Delightful Art with Dee. Photo courtesy Dee Brown.

Dee Brown of Delightful Art with Dee grew tired of looking at the shabby garage door next to her gallery, which opened in December at the Davis Building, 137 N. Michigan St.

Sixteen designs will be chosen for a series of mini-murals on the Davis Building garage door next to Delightful Art with Dee. Photo courtesy Dee Brown.

She asked building manager Mike Moriarty if she could have a mural painted on it. Instead, Moriarty suggested 16 murals, one in each square of the garage door.

“I loved the idea,” Brown said. “We do things in fast motion here. Once the idea hits, we roll with it.”

Brown issued a call for artists last week and has already received 11 submissions. Up to three designs per person can be submitted by April 19 to [email protected] or via Facebook at “Delightful Art With Dee’s Art With A Heart.” The only stipulation is the designs  cannot contain nudity or extreme violence to maintain the gallery’s family-friendly atmosphere, Brown said.

A group of finalists will be named April 25 during Aftermatic, an Artomatic 419! afterparty and Moriarty will choose the 16 winners from that group.

The finished murals will be unveiled during a June 18 fundraiser for Brown’s Art with a Heart program, coinciding with The Arts Commissions’ Third Thursday Loop.

“This building is historical. I’m trying to add to its history and culture by adding more art, trying to bring back some of its beauty,” Brown said. “Transforming the outside with art adds some new history.”

 
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