The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Hafner raises money for little leagues with Crushers
AVON » The Lake Erie Crushers looked to rejuvenate their offense after a lopsided loss June 15 to open a six-game home stand, and they turned to an unconventional source.
Former Indians designated hitter and first baseman Travis Hafner joined the Crushers June 16 in what started as a promotion to get fans through the gates but quickly turned into a way to benefit little leagues in Northeast Ohio.
Hafner went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored, and the Crushers snapped a four-game home losing streak with a 3-0 win over visiting River City in front of a near-capacity crowd.
But the night was more about giving back to the community for Hafner and the Crushers. The win was simply a bonus.
“It was great. I had a good time,” Hafner said. “I was hoping to get a play where I got to score on a wild pitch or something like that.
“The coaching staff was great, the front office was great. It was fun just hanging out with the players.”
Hafner, who resides in the area with his wife and three children, coaches his kids’ teams and said promoting youth baseball has become one of his life’s passions, so when Crushers owner Tom Kramig approached him with the opportunity, Hafner made the most of it.
“I got asked to do it and then we kind of realized that we could benefit little league baseball in the area,” Hafner said.
“My kids now are 8, 5 and 3 and my oldest two are in little league,” he added. “I’ve been coaching it for three years and love that age and you want them to love the game of baseball.”
Kramig was happy to work with Hafner in his request to not make the night as much about his return to baseball but about giving back to the community.
Three organizations benefited from proceeds raised before and during the game: Amherst, Avon and Westlake little leagues.
Amherst and Westlake little leagues held a ticket fundraiser prior to the game while proceeds from the night’s 50-50 raffle will go to Avon little league.
Hafner also donated two signed jerseys to be auctioned during the game with the proceeds going to Avon little league, and all three organizations will receive proceeds from the auction of three signed bats.
“He’s been first-class through the whole thing,” Kramig said. “No matter what he does (at the plate) tonight, it’s been a success.”
It’s not just local youth baseball reaping the benefits of Hafner’s return.
The Crushers themselves desperately needed to change their luck as losers of six of the last seven games at home, and Kramig, along with team manager Cam Roth, knew Hafner was the man to help get them out of the homefield slump.
“After a 10-0 loss, I’m sure he’s worried about not being a distraction in the clubhouse and maybe we might need a distraction,” Roth said. “After a loss like last night, coming in and not really knowing what’s going to happen, trying to rejuvenate an offense, even kind of getting that team back on a roll ... they just need some time to decompress a little bit and it’s good to have a guy like (Hafner) come in.
“It’s not necessarily a big distraction from baseball but it gives them a little bit more of an outside perspective on some things.”
Hafner got his whole family involved in the experience, too.
All three of his kids threw out a first pitch and his oldest son, Blake, was the Crushers’ bat boy for the day.
“I think for me it’s just fun to have my kids out here at the ballpark,” Hafner said. “My youngest two never really had a chance to see me play so it will be fun to have them be a part of this.
“I’m just hoping to go out there and have fun and do well . ... Obviously there’s great fans in the area and it’s an honor to be asked to do something like this. While it’s benefiting little league baseball at the same time is like a win-win.”