6/2/2018
Adam Poulisse (RRSTAR)

ROCKFORD — Megan Cavanagh said she hasn’t played much baseball since cameras stopped rolling on “A League of Their Own,” the movie that immortalized our Rockford Peaches. But that didn’t stop the actress — best known as the slouchy, frowny Marla Hooch in the film — from stepping up to the plate at Beyer Stadium Saturday, home of the real-life Peaches from 1943 to 1954. Cavanagh, who lives in Los Angeles but is originally from Chicago, was on a team with Rockford-area sponsors and state dignitaries as they took on the Rockford Starfires women’s baseball team for some good-ol’-fashioned softball at the historic field. Baseballs weren’t used to keep hundreds of spectators safe from foul balls. Cavanagh covered second base for the pink-clad home team comprised of the guests of honor, and recorded the first out of the game. Her team would go on to win the game over the Starfires 5-4. “It’s a great day at the ballpark,” Cavanagh said. “Everyone’s been so supportive and we’re so appreciative.” Saturday’s big game continued a citywide celebration of the 75th anniversary of the first game played by the Rockford Peaches and the beginning of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Thousands have attended family-friendly events around Rockford since a gala Wednesday at the Coronado Performing Arts Center kicked things off. On Thursday, people waited in line for hours outside the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau to get autographs from the original lady baseball players. Peaches Day at Rockford City Market Friday drew 10,867 visitors, the busiest City Market on record according to event officials. Friday evening closed out with a screening of “A League of Their Own” in Davis Park. Before Saturday’s game at Beyer Stadium, there was an interactive educational event for families centered around baseball. “It’s everything I wanted it to be,” said Sheryl Hall, one of the anniversary celebration co-chairs. “It’s the essence of summer — people are outside, kids are having fun with their parents.” The festivities come to a close Sunday at Beyer Stadium with a home run derby at 8 a.m. Afterward, there will be a baseball game between firefighters and police officers, followed by a closing ceremony ending the five-day celebration. While almost all of the events have been free to attend, money raised through sponsorship and merchandise sales are going toward the International Women’s Baseball Center, a $7 million baseball museum and training center that will be constructed across the street from Beyer Stadium on 15th Avenue. IWBC President Kat Williams said about $15,000 was raised through Friday in merchandise sales. During Saturday’s game, the Rockford IceHogs hockey team awarded $3,500 to the IWBC. Peaches memorabilia was regularly auctioned off throughout the day. “We’re blown away by the support,” Williams said, “but we’re not surprised by it.” She said having baseball games at Beyer Stadium as part of the celebration was an obvious choice. “We want to get people down here to see the field and the future home of the IWBC, and one way to do that is to play baseball,” Williams said. U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-East Moline, was on the celebrity team. She plays shortstop on the women’s congressional softball team. On Saturday, she played first base and said she was happy to be at Beyer Stadium. “It’s part of the local roots of this great city,” she said. ” I was honored they asked me to come play.” It wasn’t an all-girls softball game, however. State Sen. Steve Stadelman was also on the team. “It’s such a blast to play on the same field the Peaches did,” he said. “It’s such an experience.” For the Starfires, it wasn’t just another opponent on the field. “I think we were all initially in a state of shock,” team member Michelle Knowles said, “but we’re having so much fun.” Helen “Sis” Waddell played for the Peaches in 1950 and 1951. But Saturday, she wore a Starfires jersey and was coaching — or as she put it, “yelling at” — the team. She said having so much activity at Beyer Stadium again is “a great deal.” “I’ve dreamed of this for a long time,” she said. “We got people from everywhere coming together.” Mayor Tom McNamara threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Original Peaches batgirls were near the dugouts and occasionally tended to the bats, but eventually handed the duties over to young girls eager to help. Fans of the Peaches and the team’s iconic movie lined the field during the game. In the empty lot where the IWBC will one day be built, local vendors were selling Peaches swag. Verla Ahrens lives in Huntley, but lived in Rockford when the Peaches originally played. She used to take the bus to Beyer Stadium for games. She returned to the field Saturday and watched the game underneath the scoreboard. She said she didn’t know the what kind of legacy the Peaches would leave behind. “It’s thrilling; it’s fun to know I got to see them,” Ahrens said.


For More Information:
http://www.rrstar.com/news/20180602/celebrities-state-officials-original-rockford-peaches-gather-for-softball-game-at-beyer-stadium