Number of Participants: 8
Hours Donated: 56
Value of Time Served: $3,786
Event Type: Children & Youth
Sport: Softball
School: Half Hollow Hills High School East
Date: April 19, 2024
Location:
Half Hollow Hills High School East
Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills
NY
About:
Brian Marcelin moved up to about halfway between the circle and the plate at Half Hollow Hills West’s softball field. The Hills East senior let fly overhand with a feel-good, ceremonial first pitch, prompting a soundtrack of clapping hands and loud cheers.
Soon Kaitlyn Magerle was letting fly underhand with a whole lot of pitches that made her Whitman team feel good.
Half Hollow Hills’ combined softball team hosted its second annual autism awareness game Friday. Whitman has been the opponent both times. This time, Magerle fired a four-hitter, helping fuel the Wildcats’ 5-2 win on a special day.
“I love that they keep picking us to play against,” the senior righthander said about the charitable cause. “It means a lot to everyone here and we get to be a part of it.”
Marcelin is graduating from a Hills East special education program that teaches life skills. The program has a club called Best Buddies, matching special needs students with peers at the school, leading to friendships between each pairing.
The third Best Buddies prom is coming May 23 at the Hills East gym. Money raised from snack and T-shirt sales at this game will go toward staging the prom.
“It’s a huge hit,” said Kerry Guarriello, Hills’ co-softball coach with Sal Trovato and one of Marcelin’s special ed teachers. “Everybody loves it.”
The chance to throw out the first pitch was a hit for Marcelin. He’s 22 and nonverbal. His brother summed up everything for him.
“It’s a great moment,” said Michael Marcelin, who’s the Hills East boys basketball coach. “A lot of people came out to support. Just throwing the first pitch is a monumental thing and just a great showcase for autism awareness.”
Magerle (2-3) excelled for the seven innings that followed. Both runs off her were unearned. The SUNY-Geneseo commit struck out three and walked none.
This year, Hills East continued its tradition of community and inclusion with the Best Buddies Prom and annual game. The Best Buddies club, led by a dedicated special education teacher, Kerry Guarriello, pairs students with disabilities with their peers without disabilities, fostering friendships through games, music, dance, and arts and crafts.
The club meets twice a week for 28 weeks, culminating in the highly anticipated Best Buddies Prom. To ensure everyone can attend, the club organizes fundraisers such as bake sales and unified sports events. Over the past two years, this prom has become a highlight for students and their peers.
The annual game featured Brian Marcelin, brother of Hills East football coach Alex Marcelin and basketball coach Mike Marcelin, throwing out the first pitch. This event brings together students from various sports, including softball, soccer, gymnastics, kickline, football, basketball, baseball, and unified sports. The game originated last year when the club sold autism awareness merchandise, and one of the students threw out the first pitch. Its success in uniting the community and teams inspired the organizers to make it an annual tradition.
The game was played against Whitman both years due to their outstanding support for the students. This year, three girls from the Hills softball team, who are also Best Buddies club members, will attend the prom as dates for the students. The prom is scheduled for May 23rd, and the school community is excited to celebrate another year of friendship, support, and community spirit.
In addition to the game and prom, the Best Buddies club also organizes after-school bake sales and unified sports activities to raise funds. The club’s efforts not only help cover the costs of the prom but also create inclusive opportunities for students to bond and support one another. This cause is particularly close to the heart of the club’s dedicated special education teacher, who has been instrumental in fostering these meaningful connections.