Make A Wish Foundation

Make A Wish Foundation

Of Western and Central Massachusetts

Softball Game and 8th Annual

All-Star Benefit Home Run Dinner and Silent Auction

The Scene:	Szot Park, Chicopee Massachusetts.
The Date:	August 7, 1999 -- One O'Clock PM.
The Conditions:	Weather, gorgeous; fans, excited; athletes/actors relaxed and smiling.
The Event:	Make A Wish Foundation Of Western and Central Massachusetts 8th Annual All-Star Softball Game

The Recap:

Julian Stone braved the trip all the way across the United States to contribute his time, his star-power and his athletic prowess to the daytime television all-star softball team. Seems they made a good choice when they invited him, because our first glimpse of handsome number eight was of Julian hitting a solid single to add to an already exciting first inning.

Fearing the worst for our British hero, surrounded as he was by Americans who've played softball seemingly since infancy and who were spoon fed the old saying "as American as baseball and apple pie," Julian soon allayed our fears and acquitted himself admirably. He went 3 for 3 in his turns at bat.

On the defensive end of things, Julian waited patiently for the fly balls to come his way in innings 1 - 5 way out in right field. He was moved to left field during the sixth and seventh innings, and when he got a rest between innings five and six, he stole a microphone (not a base!) and decided to begin doing "color commentary" of the game. Julian has a well-developed sense of humor and although many people didn't know who the culprit making the jokes was, the impish grin and the British accent gave it away for some!

During the sixth inning Julian doubled on an error... but was so enthralled watching teammate Jason-Shane Scott (OLTL) make it home on his single, (therefore an RBI to Julian's credit as well) that he almost didn't run on to 2nd base! As was pointed out by a fan, "Give the guy a break, he is British."

The soap all-stars won the game 12-11 beating the local Channel 40 news team. Everyone was a good sport and the teams shook hands after the game. (Picture Julian is #8)

The all-star team included: Julian of course, Mark Derwin ("Ben Davidson" OLTL); Jason-Shane Scott ("Will Rappaport" OLTL); David Fumero ("Christian Vega" OLTL); the token female: Gina Tognoni ("Kelly Cramer" OLTL); TW King formerly from Loving and now seen on "Charmed"; plus several other actors form daytime. The team posed for official photos after the game.

Later on the crowd got "cleaned up" and gathered for the Make A Wish Home Run Dinner With The Stars. The Knights of Columbus in Holyoke was the site for an evening filled with partying and celebration. Since the All-Star team won the game, the actors were in an especially expansive and fun mood! Everyone signed autographs, posed for pictures with their fans and generally had a good time.

There was real revelry in victory as the team was caught drinking from the winners trophy... good thing it was only club soda, Julian!

The silent auction raised a fair amount of money for the Make A Wish Foundation Of Western and Central Massachusetts. For example, Julian's autographed Make-A-Wish bear sold for $65, and a signed GH script with a signed Nurses Ball T-shirt went for $155.00! Julian's fans came in all age groups -- and if you thought he only appeals to you... take a look at the adoring fans who mobbed him that evening.

Article & photographs by A. Beberman, layout by K. James

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