Thirty Max Higbee Center members joined the 2024 West Coast League All-Stars for a Community Champions exhibition game Tuesday, July 16 at Joe Martin Stadium.
To try and improve on the Batting Against the Bells event from last season, the Bells reached out to the Max Higbee Center, an organization that provides recreation programs for youth and adults with developmental disabilities, to create a new game.
“Emotions are high,” said Kait Whiteside, Max Higbee Center’s executive director. “It’s an exciting opportunity to play with professional players on the big field. The center is filled with enthusiasm.”
Although the game was listed for six innings and the outcome did not matter, the Max Higbee players were excited to compete.
“It’s awesome,” Max Higbee Center member Megan Harrell said. “(I’m ready to) run the bases and show off.”
“This is our first time coming to a Bells game since we just moved here recently,” Megan’s father, Keith Harrell, said. “It’s a fun experience for her to interact.”
Bells’ head coach Bob Ralston and assistant coach Riley Parker were excited to unite the community and meet the players from the center.
The game began with Mayor Kim Lund throwing the first pitch and 22-year-old Max Higbee member Nicole Halverson singing the national anthem for the first time in front of a crowd. Once the game began, the crowds cheered as loud as a regular-season night game for the Bells.
“A lot of these people come to our games here on weeknights so they will get a taste of what it is like,” Bells coach Josh Robbins said before the game. “We will treat them with the same experience we usually get tonight.”
Each Max Higbee member was paired up with at least one all-star player and had the opportunity to bat, field and play an adaptive style of baseball. Some players used tees while others smashed the ball from a live pitcher.
“It’s a such wonderful opportunity and we are grateful to have this platform and gain some visibility and attention from the baseball community,” Whiteside said. “It aligns with our mission of recreation programs.”
The Max Higbee Center, located at 1400 N. State St., used the event to raise money for its recreation programs, and 50% of ticket sales from the game went back to the center to support over 350 individuals.
The Bellingham Bells donated $10,000 to the Max Higbee Center during the WCL All-Star Game.
“We will win no matter what, which is pretty cool,” Whiteside said.
The story was updated on July 18 at 10:30 a.m. to include the donation amount of $10,000 to the Max Higbee Center
Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
