Mobile Mobsters Baseball

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Proceeds to benefit urban youth teams

Top graduating seniors from high school teams in Mobile and Baldwin counties will battle for bragging rights on May 9 at the inaugural #“Senior Showdown” at -Toolen Catholic High School.
The game rekindles a long-standing tradition of featuring the area’s best seniors in a final contest open to the public. It builds on the 69 clashes of the classic East-West All-Star Game, which drew college and professional scouts and was played last in 2012.
As part of the ceremonies acknowledging Mobile’s rich baseball history, former major league players born in Mobile or living in the area will be inducted into the newly created Frank Bolling Ambassadors of Baseball Fraternity.
Bolling, a two-time All-Star, played in the major leagues for 12 years, and was instrumental in founding the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and the Mobile Baseball Hall of Fame.
He and his brother, Milt, are one of four double-play brother combinations in major league history.
More than 50 players born in Mobile have reached Major League Baseball or the Negro League, including Hall of Fame members Hank Aaron, Billy Williams, Satchel Page, Willie McCovey and Ozzie Smith.
The Senior Showdown is directed by the Mobile , an organization of former players and coaches that raises funds and collects used equipment to support inner-city baseball. Mobsters, which is short for Mobile Organized Baseball Society Teaching Every Relevant Skill, also conducts baseball clinics at area schools and recreation parks.
“The showdown, like other athletic events, is about helping young people learn how to succeed in sports and life,” said Mobsters’ co-founder Joe Connick. “We want this to become as much a spring tradition as the East-West games when the Mobile Lions organized them.
“Sports equipment is expensive, and anything we can do to put more baseball gear in the hands of young players advances the game,” Connick said.
Some players nominated for the teams may not be available if their schools are in the playoffs, but many of the top players are expected.
Barring playoff obligations, the two head coaches are set.
The Mobile team will be skippered by St. Luke’s Episcopal School coach Mike , who set a record for school wins when he coached baseball at Satsuma High School.
Helming the Baldwin team will be coaching legend Tommy , who returned to Spanish Fort after steering high school and college teams in the Birmingham and Ocean Springs, MS areas.
Both are members of the Alabama Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.
Tickets will be sold at the gate or provided with donation of new or slightly used adult baseball equipment.

Fast Facts:
Where: McGill-Toolen’s Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb Complex, aka "The Lip," 3610 Michael Blvd. Mobile, AL 36609.
When: May 9
Batting practice: 4-6 p.m.
Pregame ceremonies: 6:30 p.m.
Game time: 7 p.m.
Admission: $5 or a donation of new or slightly used adult baseball equipment.