‘PRIDE OF HYDE PARK’ STILL THROWING STRIKES
Ex-Sox reliever hits lanes for good cause
Manny Delcarmen continues to be the defending champion of his nickname, “The Pride of Hyde Park.”
The former Red Sox pitcher has teamed up with his childhood friend Jose Diaz to build a center for student-athletes called the Boston Athletic Academy in their old neighborhood — and they’re throwing a kid-friendly party to spill some of the deets.
Kicking off the new initiative, the duo is hosting Manny Delcarmen Strikes Back for Youth at Ron’s Gourmet Ice Cream and Twentieth Century Bowling Alley on Sunday. The event, which is running from noon to 4 p.m., will give guests a sneak peek at renderings of the Boston Athletic Academy, as well as the chance to chat with Delcarmen and Diaz about the future facility.
If we’re talking specs, the Boston Athletic Academy is expected to be a fully equipped center for sports and educational services to provide local kids the resources to not only hone their baseball skills, but also receive scholastic support. The complex is slated to open at 54 Walter St. in Hyde Park, where it will have batting cages, pitching mounds, loads of baseball equipment and a separate exercise area for strength and conditioning. And on the academic side, it will also have classrooms where studentathletes can study, do homework, receive college prep and hold tutoring sessions throughout the school year.
More details about the facility will be shared at this weekend’s event. Other perks of the party include: Bowling directly against Delcarmen, who now plays for the New Britain Bees, as well as bidding on silent auction items like four VIP Red Sox tickets, an autographed Jackie Bradley Jr. jersey and a signed baseball from Rick Porcello. Tickets are still up for grabs and include two strings of bowling, shoe rental and a raffle ticket. And even if you aren’t about to hit the lanes, you can make a donation to support the Boston Athletic Academy.