Stanislaus County Sheriff's deputies and Modesto firefighters are trading badges and turnout gear for bats and gloves this weekend, squaring off in an afternoon baseball game at Modern Woodmen Field in Modesto. Gates open at 11 a.m. Saturday, with first pitch set for 1:05 p.m., and the $10 tickets come with a built-in payoff for local kids.
According to the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office, the event will feature baseball action, family-friendly entertainment and full concessions alongside the first-responder competition. Half of the proceeds are earmarked for Stanislaus County PAL, the sheriff's office says, and tickets are available online or at the gate.
The beneficiary has deep roots in the county. Stanislaus County PAL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1992, according to stancopal.org, and the organization says it provides recreational, educational, cultural and social programs for youth ages 6 through 18. The group currently runs 46 programs across Grayson, Keyes, Empire, Waterford and Modesto, per the same source.
Free Youth Leagues Behind the Scenes
Baseball itself is central to PAL's mission beyond Saturday's exhibition. The nonprofit offers free, noncompetitive coed baseball leagues for kids ages 5 to 13 in Stanislaus and surrounding counties, organized into T-ball, Minors and Majors divisions, stancopal.org notes. For more than a decade, PAL has also partnered with the San Francisco Jr. Giants Foundation to keep those programs free for families.
Modern Woodmen Field has had its share of big moments already this year. The ballpark hosted the Modesto Roadsters' inaugural opening-day game on May 20, when the team beat the RedPocket Mobiles 12-1 in front of a crowd, according to the Modesto Bee. That day even included a Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office helicopter flyover during the national anthem, plus mascot karaoke and post-game fireworks, the newspaper reported.
A Ballpark With a Long Future Ahead
The venue itself is locked in for years to come. Modern Woodmen Field is set to serve as the Roadsters' home for the next decade under a naming-rights agreement, according to Modern Woodmen. Saturday's first-responder showdown adds another community event to the ballpark's growing calendar, giving Modesto families a reason to fill the stands while supporting youth programs closer to home.
