Meadows Claims Championship in MBX Parents Softball Classic
Jun 17, 2015 02:48PM ● By Mb News Staff
Players on the championship team from Meadows Elementary join happy kids on the field after their victory in the 2015 10th annual MBX Parents Softball Classic. Photo by Chris Miller.
A team representing Meadows Elementary School captured the championship in the 10th annual MBX Parents Softball Classic, a friendly school-against-school competition that raises funds for the MBX Foundation and the Mira Costa High School softball program. In its 10-year history, the tournament has raised more than $90,000.
This year's championship game pitted Meadows and American Martyrs School parents against each other, with Meadows taking the title 8-2. The two teams had just faced off in round robin play, with AMS beating Meadows 11-10, each team finishing with records of 3-1.
Two other teams ended regular tourney play (each team played four games) with 3-1 records as well: Pennekamp Elementary School, and Grand View Elementary School. A run differential (difference between runs scored and runs allowed) was used as the tie-breaker to determine which teams played in the championship game.
Related: Photo Gallery: MBX Parents Softball Classic
Other schools fielding teams included Robinson Elementary School (2-2 overall); Pacific Elementary School (2-2 overall); a combination team from Manhattan Beach Middle School and Mira Costa High School (1-3 overall), and Mira Costa High School (0-4 overall).
A Home Run Derby, held during the lunch break, was won by Scott Weller, an MBMS parent.
Manhattan Beach resident Ross Kay started the tournament 10 years ago when his daughters were in first and third grades at Pennekamp (the third grader is now a senior at Mira Costa and set to graduate tomorrow, June 18).
Funds from the softball tournament have been used "to improve sports and athletic facilities at Mira Costa and to support Costa’s wonderful softball program," said Gary Wayland of MBX Foundation, a tax-exempt organization dedicated to supporting all extra-curricular activities at Mira Costa High School and in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District.
MBX's history, which dates back to its inception in 2002 as the Manhattan Beach Athletic Foundation, was formed to support – primarily – sports and athletic programs in MBUSD, said Wayland. In addition, the foundation has provided grants for athletic and play equipment for other area schools.
In its early years, the foundation used funds to build a synthetic track, install artificial turf, and remodel Fisher Gym at Mira Costa.
Currently, the organization supports more than 35 sports, performing arts, and extra-curricular booster groups that have become MBX stakeholders, partnering with these groups to hold fundraising events.
Related: Photo Gallery: MBX Parents Softball Classic
Meadows team member Billy Baker scores a run in the championship game against American Martyrs School. Photo by Chris Miller.
Two other teams ended regular tourney play (each team played four games) with 3-1 records as well: Pennekamp Elementary School, and Grand View Elementary School. A run differential (difference between runs scored and runs allowed) was used as the tie-breaker to determine which teams played in the championship game.
Related: Photo Gallery: MBX Parents Softball Classic
Other schools fielding teams included Robinson Elementary School (2-2 overall); Pacific Elementary School (2-2 overall); a combination team from Manhattan Beach Middle School and Mira Costa High School (1-3 overall), and Mira Costa High School (0-4 overall).
A Home Run Derby, held during the lunch break, was won by Scott Weller, an MBMS parent.
Manhattan Beach resident Ross Kay started the tournament 10 years ago when his daughters were in first and third grades at Pennekamp (the third grader is now a senior at Mira Costa and set to graduate tomorrow, June 18).
Kay told DigMB he got the idea "after seeing Jeff Goodrich put together the idea for soccer... It just seemed to be a natural to do the same thing for softball. We started with five teams and are now up to nine. We could grow to ten, but that is probably the max," he said.
MBX's history, which dates back to its inception in 2002 as the Manhattan Beach Athletic Foundation, was formed to support – primarily – sports and athletic programs in MBUSD, said Wayland. In addition, the foundation has provided grants for athletic and play equipment for other area schools.
In its early years, the foundation used funds to build a synthetic track, install artificial turf, and remodel Fisher Gym at Mira Costa.
Currently, the organization supports more than 35 sports, performing arts, and extra-curricular booster groups that have become MBX stakeholders, partnering with these groups to hold fundraising events.
Related: Photo Gallery: MBX Parents Softball Classic
