Opening Day tradition continues for Blue Devils Baseball players and Wickliffe Senior Center
BY STAFF
LAKE COUNTY SENTINEL
(WICKLIFFE, OH) - Thursday is MLB Opening Day, a day a lot of American consider a holiday. That is definitely the case in Wickliffe as the Wickliffe Senior Center had their annual opening day lunch as 12 members of the Wickliffe Blue Devils Varsity baseball team served lunch to the seniors. The lunch was held prior to the Cleveland Guardians season opener in Kansas City against the Kansas City Royals at 4:10 pm.
Wickliffe Recreation Director Tim Stopp hosted the event and said the event had been an annual tradition since he became recreation director in 2003. He commented, “This is my favorite day of the year we get to enjoy baseball with the baseball team, and we get to enjoy baseball with the seniors down at the senior center. Stopp went on to say, “It's a great match between the two lot of happy faces a lot of fun times everybody just has a blast.”
The event began with the ball players passing out peanuts to the attendees. Wickliffe first baseman/pitcher Wyatt Boehmer a senior commented that, “It means a lot, doing a lot for the community and just helping out whenever I can, it makes me feel good.”
Wickliffe head coach Phil Motta who could not be in attendance because he was teaching a class said, “The Wickliffe Senior Center is a great agency in Wickliffe. When Tim (Stopp) asks us to participate each year there is no question we will.” Motta, who is in his second stint as Wickliffe’s varsity coach (1998-2002, 2012-present) went on to say, “We feel this is a great opportunity for our student athletes to spend time with the seniors in the community. It’s an amazing tradition that goes so well with the amazing sport of baseball.”
The luncheon continued with both the members of the senior center and players having lunch which of course included hot dogs. Popcorn was served after lunch. Wickliffe senior centerfielder/pitcher Nunzio Zivnoska commented that, “I mean it's just really getting with the community.” Zivnoska continued, “I guess it's just showing the folks that, like, we care, we like being around them.”
After the players finished serving lunch they took a picture with Lake County Captains mascot Skipper. Then the boys made their way to the front of the room for introductions. Each of the 12 players introduced themselves telling the member their name, what position they play and who were their favorite Cleveland Guardians or MLB players. The overwhelming majority of the players said their favorite player was third baseman Jose Ramirez. Blue Devils lead baseball assistant Kevin Sharp, like Motta is also a teacher at the Campus of Wickliffe commented about the event, “I think it's a great opportunity for them to, you know, get out and meet other members of the community. It’s a good service opportunity for them and it allows the seniors to see, you know, some good upstanding individuals that are in the schools right now doing good things.”
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POSTED 03/27/2025 15:05
Lake County Sentinel
Wickliffe Baseball seniors Wyatt Boehmer and Nunzio Zivnoska serve lunch to residents at Wickliffe Senior Center on Thursday.
