One of the best stories of the year in baseball is the success of the Detroit Tigers. After a few years in the cellar of the American League Central, the Tigers have taken the division and league by surprise. Two matches of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit joined umpires Marvin Hudson and Mark Wegner this weekend for games against the Cincinnati Reds.

On Saturday, May 20th, Big Brother Eric Reinhard and Little Brother Nico (pictured above) made their way to Comerica Park for a thriller. After relinquishing a four-run lead by surrendering a Ken Griffey grand slam in the seventh inning, Detroit was brought back from the brink with a game-tying homer by Curtis Granderson, sparking the Tigers to a 10th-inning comeback victory.

On Sunday, mentor Scott Dunaway and his little brother Tony (pictured on the left) had their chance to witness a close Tiger victory as guests of Umpire Mark Wegner. Tigers pinch-hitter Placido Polanco delivered a clutch pinch-hit RBI single to push across the game's only run in the bottom of the eighth. Tigers 1 and the Reds 0.

Eric and Scott...BLUE for Kids wishes to thank you for the time you spend with Nico and Tony. We hope your day at the ballpark strengthens your match relationship in a small way.

We also wish to acknowledge Beth O'Conner (Match Support Specialist) and Michelle Soucy (Program Director) of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit for helping put this together.

If you live in the Detroit area and think you would be interested in mentoring a young boy or girl, visit their website at www.bbbsdetroit.org. Live in another area ? Visit www.bbbs.org.

Samuel Dearth
Executive Director BLUE for Kids