15th Annual Home Runs for the Homeless Recap

Home Runs for the Homeless, a heartwarming and impactful event led by Harford Family House, recently brought together participants and attendees from all walks of life to make a significant difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness. On July 25th, 2023, the thrilling home run derby took place. As a testament to the passion and dedication of the organizers, participants, and attendees, Home Runs for the Homeless achieved an unprecedented milestone this year by raising the most funds in its 15-year history; over $78,000 was raised in this year's event! The funds raised from this monumental event will undoubtedly create tangible change for families and individuals experiencing homelessness in the community. With each dollar contributing to the efforts of Harford Family House, the event's impact will resonate for years to come. As the 15th annual Home Runs for the Homeless sets a new precedent, plans for next year's event are already in motion, promising even greater strides in the ongoing battle against homelessness.

One individual's performance stood out as a true testament to the skill in this year's Home Runs for the Homeless event. DJ Garango, who has been recognized throughout the event for years, delivered an awe-inspiring feat that left everyone amazed. DJ managed a particularly exceptional accomplishment by hitting all five of his mulligan swings over the wall. This remarkable display of precision and power earned him a record setting individual score of an astounding 1075 points which helped to vault his team, Maryland Baseball Club, into second place. DJ's achievement will not only be remembered as one of the defining moments of the event but also he may have set an unbeatable record that will stand for years to come.

Mulligans in HRS4Homeless are extra swings like mulligans in golf that batters pay for ahead of taking their turn in the cage.

As the sun set on the Home Runs for the Homeless event, the spotlight shone brightly on Maryland Mutual, which stood atop the leaderboard and secured the championship. The teams at the top were no strangers to this competition. Just as in most years past, DICORP fielded a team, this year named the JHU Bomb Squad, who scored 2615 points and blasted 12 home runs. In most years, such a score would have clinched first place, but not this year. A few hours later, Maryland Mutual stepped up to the batter's box and achieved a record setting total of 3130 points with an astonishing 17 home runs. Witnessing their bats connect and send the ball soaring out of the park was nothing short of marvelous—a display that left spectators with their mouths agape. A few teams later, they faced tough competition from the likes of the Maryland Baseball Club, which put up an impressive effort with 2725 points and 12 home runs, led by DJ Gagrano who propelled their team into second place. Maryland Mutual's achievement stood as a testament to their skill and power. By the end of the day, DICORP JHU Bomb Squad found themselves in third place, the Maryland Baseball Club in second, and Maryland Mutual in first place. Yet, this victory was about more than just being on top. This competition symbolized just how serious they and all the teams are about playing baseball while making a difference in the lives of hundreds of families and individuals experiencing homelessness in Harford County.

Matthew Cooper, a star on the Hopkins 2023 College World Series team, participated in this year's home run derby. It was particularly fitting for Matt to participate in a Home Run event since he led the entire nation in home runs for D3 baseball. He was also a first-team All-American, All-region, and All-Conference selection. He shattered the single-season home run record for Hopkins (25) and set the all-time career home run record (37) in only his second season with the club. Matt was inspired by the event to begin his own philanthropic journey of giving back, and is in the process of launching Home Runs for Hope to support several causes meaningful to him, including the Special Olympics. In the derby, Matt blasted six home runs, including one that cleared the entire clubhouse.

This year's competition featured a new pitching machine which caused an unexpected twist that added an exciting dimension to this year's Home Runs for the Homeless event. Participants took their swings against the new pitching machine, set at a consistent 46 mph. While the use of a pitching machine was nothing new, what truly stood out was the coincidental choice to maintain a steady speed. Typically, the stronger hitting teams opt to crank up the speed when they step into the batter's box. However, this year, they discovered the baseballs were bouncing off their bats beautifully at 46 mph. Unlike previous years, where pitching speeds often increased for more seasoned players, this year's 46 mph speed seemed to strike a winning balance. The top teams scored higher than ever before, begging the question: is 46 mph the sweet spot speed for Home Runs?

To learn more about our electronic scoring system and view the full results, please visit our Event Center page. Each year, we will continue to enhance the page, ultimately incorporating features such as tracking the event live "swing by swing" and accessing historical team and player statistics. Click Event Center to view all of the results.

Baseball 4 Causes is a new locally-based nonprofit program that donates technology and partners in event management to help expand the impact of philanthropic efforts using the sport of baseball. We are always looking for new non-profits to help.

DICORP is a software technology company situated in Forest Hill. The company has generously donated the use of its Continual Community platform to Harford Family House as part of its Baseball 4 Causes partnership. This donation serves to streamline the registration process, saving valuable staff time and enabling them to better serve the homeless community, while also expanding the overall impact of the event.

Anvilor Solutions and its founder, Tim Kutcher, a long-time derby participant and former Hopkins baseball standout, have developed and donated a custom iPad application for scoring each swing. This innovation has allowed the event to cycle through teams much faster and even endure a 1-hour weather delay while staying ahead of schedule. In the coming year, the app will offer even more real-time statistics for everyone to enjoy, enhancing the experience of witnessing performances as they unfold. This innovation alone, stemming from the Baseball 4 Causes partnership, will dramatically expand the event's impact for years to come by enabling more teams to participate.

A subtle yet intriguing twist added a touch of excitement to this year's event. Participants had a chance to earn an extra 75 points by hitting the wall, a modification that might not have been a game changer, but it certainly added an interesting dimension. While it might not have significantly contributed to the final scores, this innovation potentially played a role in enabling teams to achieve even higher totals.

As stated earlier, the coveted title of Overall Event Champion was claimed by none other than Maryland Mutual, whose exceptional performance earned them an impressive total of 3130 points. This accomplishment allowed them to surpass the likes of Maryland Baseball Club, who scored 2725 points and secured the second position, and DICORP Bomb Squad, who earned themselves third place with 2615 points.

Perhaps the most impactful award given is The Top Virtual Team honor, which was bestowed upon Team Verdence for their exceptional fundraising prowess through crowdfunding efforts, allowing them to raise $900. Rob Schmitt captained Team Verdence, leading them to secure this award. Rob was a star at C. Milton Wright High School and even was inducted into their Hall of Fame. He also excelled collegiately at Seton Hall University, even earning the title of All Big East in 1992. His credentials and achievements show he is a good as a player as he is kind and generous. As a team, their dedication and outreach resulted in raising the highest funds among all contestants. Team Verdence's achievement illustrates the potential of digital platforms to rally support and make a significant impact in addressing homelessness. Additionally, Team Verdence showcased their competitive spirit on the field by amassing an impressive score of 1090 points.

The prestigious Officers Cup was clinched by the Bel Air Police, a well-deserved recognition for their outstanding performance. Their score of 2000 points demonstrated their dedication and skill on the field. Amid stiff competition, which included a close runner up, the Harford County Sheriff's Office with an impressive 1775 points themselves, the Bel Air Police showcased their athletic prowess and determination to obtain their win. This victory highlights their excellence among their fellow first responder teams, solidifying their position as the winner of the Officers Cup. Or, as Debuty Police Commissioner Dave Hughes would agree... To protect. To server. To mash.

The Corporate Team Award, a distinction that celebrates unity and teamwork within an organization, rightfully belongs to the Moneyballers. With all four batters hailing from the same company, Worthington Financial Partners, their collective effort resulted in an impressive score of 900 points, clinching first place and surpassing PeoplesBank with 880 points and Harkins Builders Team 2 with 860 points. This achievement stands as a testament to the synergy within the team, showcasing their ability to collaborate and succeed together not only within the corporate world but also on the field.

The coveted Silver Slugger award rightfully belongs to DJ Gargano, whose extraordinary performance at the plate sets him apart as the batter with the most points. As we mentioned before and reiterate now, his astounding score of 1075 points speaks volumes about his exceptional skill and determination. As the day was coming to a close, it appeared that first place would be shared by Dave Miele from MD Mutual and Quinn Madden from Bel Air Police, both with 810 points, and Matt Cooper trailing right behind them with 800 points. However, DJ demonstrated his prowess by utilizing all five of his mulligan swings and hitting five bombs to secure his impressive score, clinching first place and leaving an indelible mark on the event that will be remembered for years to come.

The Golden Arm competition, where participants paid $10 to test their throwing skill, showcased the precision and skill of the contenders. Positioned approximately 60 feet away from the target, each participant had the opportunity to make an unlimited number of throws within a 20-second timespan, all unassisted by others. The scoring system awarded three points for balls that sailed through the center target hole and one point for those landing on the target's outer edges. In this contest, Conor Reynolds emerged as the Golden Arm champion, scoring an impressive 21 points. His high score was a result of his consistent ability to hit the mark, demonstrating that he could not only hit bombs but also throw masterfully.

The prestigious Georgia Peach Softball Competition , which celebrates the highest scoring female batter who opted to hit softballs, shines a spotlight on the remarkable performance of Allison Pomroy from Harford Mutual Insurance Group. Her exceptional achievement at the plate, scoring 275 points, helped secure her this award, surpassing Kelly Weaver from Harford Mutual, who scored a respectable 215 points. As a standout among her peers, Pomroy's success highlights not only her batting aptitude, but also her love for the game.

The esteemed Georgia Peach Baseball Competition, which celebrates the highest-scoring female batter who chose to hit baseballs, was claimed by Brooke Hasegawa, who scored an impressive 225 points. She narrowly surpassed Tonya Marks from HCC with 160 points and Debbie Robson from Rosedale Federal Savings and Loan with 155 points, securing herself as the Georgia Peach Baseball Competition winner.

Making their debut appearance in the event, HCO Innovations wasted no time in showcasing their competitive spirit. With a score of 1285 points and 2 home runs, they secured a position just outside the top ten. Their performance undoubtedly proved that they were a team not to be underestimated.

The Maryland Baseball Club, a new entrant to the Home Runs for the Homeless event, wasted no time in making their presence felt. Their resounding impact was evident as they secured second place overall with a score of 2725 points and an impressive tally of 12 home runs. Their performance clearly indicated that they weren't there just for fun; they were serious contenders who gave even Maryland Mutual a run for their money.

Also new to the event is team Moneyballers who, with their awesome team name, showed their skill and determination earning themselves 900 points. 

Joining the event for the first time, Team Verdence demonstrated that they weren't there just to compete. While their impressive score of 1090 points solidified their position, what truly sets Team Verdence apart is their remarkable crowdfunding endeavors. This distinction was affirmed when they achieved the Top Virtual Team award.

Frank Kellner of Harford Mutual Insurance Company, the event’s Presenting Sponsor, received the event’s closing pitch from Harford County Executive, Bob Cassilly.

Former Edgewood Rams players, Scott Elliott of Harford Bank, Chuck Leftridge of Harkins Builders and Tommy Noel of APG take a break from volunteering on the field to catch up since last year’s Homeruns for the Homeless event.  Our on the field volunteers shag balls, run the pitching machine, keep score and even throw batting practice in an effort to give participants the best “ballpark experience”.

Brian Walker, emcee of the event, always keeps the batters, fans and volunteers entertained with his wit and charm when announcing the event from 7:30 am to 8:30 pm!!!

Steve Linkous, President and CEO of Harford Mutual Insurance Group, the event’s Presenting Sponsor, kicked off the morning with the ceremonial first pitch, and it was a STRIKE!! Long time volunteer and senior league baseball star, Ed Coogan of the HRS4Homeless Event Committee looks on in support.

Thank you to the Transformation Guild for creating this page, as well as to the photographers Jim Lockard and Rebecca Sube for their photos.

You can purchase Jim's photos for yourself from his website.

You can purchase Rebecca's photos for yourself from her website.

The Transformation Guild is a mentoring program for young writers that utilizes the skill of writing to assist others to help make a positive difference in the world. If you know of a non-profit that could benefit from a donated website or writing project, contact us.

Harford Family House is a 501(c)(3) organization. Your contribution is fully tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. IRS regulations require we inform you that Harford Family House did not provide you with any goods 
or services in exchange for your gift, other than those outlined above. A copy of our current financial statement is available upon request by contacting Harford Family House, 53 E. Bel Air Avenue, Suite 3, Aberdeen, MD 
21001 or by calling 410-273-6700. Documents and information submitted to the State of Maryland under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are available from the Office of the Secretary of State.