Jack Sink Tournament

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 18, 2010

Jack Sink Invitational Baseball Tournament to Benefit the Joe Martin ALS Foundation

CHARLOTTE, NC --- “Get up, go to the ballpark and do your very best.”

After meeting CalRipken Jr. on the day Cal broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games record, Joe Martin wrote this quote and lived by it each day throughout his battle with ALS. Joe Martin, local banking executive, community activist, and ALS patient, wanted to motivate others to do just that, whatever their ballpark may be.

When local public and private high school teams compete this year in the 23rd Annual Jack Sink Invitational Baseball Tournament, they will be living Joe’s motto.

Held at Myers Park High School this April, these players will not only play some great baseball, but they will also help the local charity set up in Joe Martin’s name, the Joe Martin ALS Foundation.

Given only 20 months to live with his diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) in 1994, Joe was losing the ability to walk when he traveled to see Ripken’s record breaking game in Baltimore on September 7, 1995. Although the news of his diagnosis was devastating and the effects of the disease were debilitating, Joe became determined to continue living life to the fullest.

With the assistance of his brother, former North Carolina Governor Jim Martin, Joe helped establish the world class Carolinas Neuromuscular/ALS Center in Charlotte, NC. He wanted people with ALS to have the best possible health care and he also wanted to help them live actively. For Joe, hope, love, and a sense of purpose extended his 20 months to 12 years.

This year’s Jack Sink Invitational Baseball Tournament, sponsored by Fuel Pizza, will be played April 5—8 at Myers Park High School and proceeds will benefit the Joe Martin ALS Foundation. Starting with the Moe’s Southwest Grill Home Run Derby on Monday, the tournament consists of four games per day and includes four local public high school vs. four local private high school teams, including Myers Park High School, Providence High School, Ardrey Kell High School, South Mecklenburg High School, Charlotte Christian School, Charlotte Country Day School, Charlotte Latin School and Providence Day School.

Several new promotional elements will take place at this year’s tournament with both Fuel Pizza and Moe’s Southwest Grill offering free pizza or burritos to players that hit their right and left field foul pole signs respectively. In addition, each player that hits a home run during the tournament will receive a commemorative display case for their home run ball provided by PowerAde.

The Jack Sink Invitational Baseball Tournament is the longest running high school baseball tournament in the Charlotte area, and features four public high school matched up against four private high schools. The tournament has displayed the talents of over 20 high school players who have gone on to play at the professional level and over 100 who competed collegiately. This year is no exception with several Division I recruits in the field including Ty Linton and Brian Holberton (both heading to UNC), Alex Baker (Georgetown), Logan Ratledge and Brett Austin (both to NCSU), Jake Watson (USC), and Jack Reinheimer (East Carolina). Notable star players who have played in this tournament in the past include Ray Durham of Harding, Mike Thomas of Richmond County and Chad Tracy of West Mecklenburg are just three of the many young stars who have played in this tournament. Plus, according to Greg Clewis, Myers Park’s Athletic Director, who is also the director of the tournament, “the unique public/private format has been a big hit among South Charlotte baseball fans.”

Expect not only great baseball match-ups, but also a great opportunity to support local high school athletics and a local charity that is dear to Charlotteans’ hearts.

For daily tournament schedule please log onto www.mphsbaseball.com and click on the link for the Jack Sink Tournament.



About the Joe Martin ALS Foundation

Established in May 2007, in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Joe Martin ALS Foundation is the realization of Joe Martin’s dream to help families cope and live fully with ALS. This 501(c) (3) nonprofit provides free home care services to help families live actively with ALS. Wheelchair accessible transportation, exercise/range of motion therapy, respite care, and assistive technology loans and tech support are just a few of the services provided at no cost to those battling this disease. Visit us them at www.joemartinALSfoundation.org.

 

What a great event for a great cause. I wish our school could participate before my son graduates.

 

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Homerun Derby

Just wanted to pass along some info on the Derby. The Homerun Derby will start at 7:00 following the Opening Ceremonies. There will be a professional PA guy running the show and local Little Leagues have kids out shagging balls. There will also be numerous sponsors out supporting the Derby and the Tourney. Fuel Pizza and Moe's Southwestern Grill will be supplying the food all week.

This is something Charlotte has never seen before. It gives the players a little pub and allows the community to put some faces with names. We encourage everyone to come and check this out. Should be an unbelievable event for Charlotte baseball.

Contestants:

MP - Grant Fisher (Undecided)
AK - Alex Baker (Georgetown)
SM - Deuce Wright (Spartanburg Methodist)
Prov. - Brett Austin (NC State)
Christian - Ty Linton (UNC)
PD - Matt Metzger (Auburn)
Latin - Chase Carbone (Undecided)
Country Day - Truett Langdon (Belmont Abbey?)

Good looking line up!

See you there.

 

I've attended the JS tournament the past 10 years. What Coach Spencer has put together is the most creative JS tourney ever. With a ton of sponsorship help, this is going to be a lot of fun.

Another tournament in Charlotte that is well represented with talented teams, coaches and bragging rights. It's the only time all year that public and private schools get to go at it---you better believe that these teams want to beat the other teams badly.

 

No Brian Holberton ?

 

Holberton

He said he couldn't hit my two seamer.

 

two seamer

Well quit bouncing it! You throw like a catcher!

Awesome event man, Good Weather, great atmosphere, keep Mr. Fisher and Wilson on the grill all day! They can cook some mean hamburgers and hot dogs. Can't wait.

 

Seniors...

Seniors...You know, you do what you can to help 'em and work with 'em then once they sign with a school they start talking trash about your BP fastball....what d'ya do?

 

Mrs. Wilson makes the best homemade cookies in the world!!!! Don't let her escape through this tournament without supplying those cookies! You could raffle those "babies" off.