Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to throw out ceremonial "first pitch" at Beloit Snappers game in support of Badges for Baseball Program

Attorney General Van Hollen is scheduled to take to the pitcher's mound with a youth from the Stateline Boys and Girls Club around 6:55 p.m. tonight.

MADISON — Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is pleased to join Beloit baseball fans for tonight's Snappers game at Pohlman Field as he throws a ceremonial “first pitch” in support of the Wisconsin Badges for Baseball Program, a partnership through the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. Attorney General Van Hollen is scheduled to take to the pitcher's mound with a youth from the Stateline Boys and Girls Club around 6:55 p.m. tonight, ahead of the Snappers' game versus the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The ballpark is located at 2301 Skyline Drive in Beloit. Young people affiliated with the program from the Stateline area will join the Attorney General and others for the game.

This marks the fourth year for the Wisconsin Badges for Baseball Program. Since 2009, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, in partnership with the Office of the Attorney General and the Wisconsin Department of Justice, has provided financial support, equipment, special events, overnight camp opportunities and curriculum to community-based partners in Milwaukee, Beloit, Appleton, Kaukauna, and on the Menominee Tribal Land. Since 2009, nearly 7,000 children have benefitted from this program, and in 2012, an additional 1,500 children will be impacted.

“The success of this program depends in part on our many enthusiastic partners, such as the Beloit Snappers. Partnering youth with law enforcement through baseball and our Boys and Girls Clubs is not only a lot of fun but an effective way to impact young people in a meaningful and positive way,” Attorney General Van Hollen said.

Badges for Baseball is a juvenile crime prevention program created by The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice. It pairs police and kids together to play and learn. The program re-shapes the relationship between law enforcement and kids living in communities across the country. More information is available at http://www.ripkenfoundation.org/