'10 Grands on the Diamond'
to raise funds for nonprofits: Event perfect pitch for music, sports fans
By Steve
Brandon,
Portland Tribune
Tue., August 7, 2018
Ten grand pianos (and pianists). Fourteen local baseball (and
softball) legends. One sparkling ballpark and one fireworks show. And more.
That's what's on deck for music and sports fans — and it's
happening on Saturday, Aug. 11, at Ron Tonkin Field.
Michael Allen Harrison, Portland composer, pianist and baseball
fan, is bringing "10 Grands on the Diamond" to the home of the
minor-league Hillsboro Hops.
The special evening of baseball-themed music and food will raise
funds for Friends of Baseball, a Portland nonprofit; Harrison's Play It Forward
program, which provides instruments and music lessons for underserved youth;
and Tigard Rotary's scholarship program.
The 10 Grands event, which starts at 7 p.m., also will serve as
the inaugural induction to the Friends of Baseball Oregon Baseball Legends.
Attending fans will honor these attending inductees, in alphabetical order:
• Mike Clopton, longtime baseball coach at Wilson and Jackson
high schools.
• Jack Dunn, former head baseball coach at Portland State and
Cleveland and Wilson high schools.
• Joe Etzel, former head baseball coach at
the University of Portland (and Central Catholic High), who also served as the
Pilots' athletic director.
• Dave Gasser, another all-time prep baseball coaching wins
leader, at Madison and Astoria high schools.
• Jerry Gatto, who coached at Cleveland High and Lewis &
Clark College and has been active in year-round baseball and fundraising for
various programs.
• Jim Joyce, a major league umpire from 1987-2016.
• Art Larrance, a former player at Hillsboro High and
Linfield College who has been a longtime supporter of local baseball.
• Teri Mariani, whose 29 PSU softball teams won 663 games and
has had five Hall of Fame inductions.
• Dick McClain, former prep and college
baseball coach whose 1969 American Legion team won the world championship.
• Ad Rutschman, legendary baseball and football coach and
administrator in high school athletics and for many years at Linfield.
• Dale Scott, a MLB umpire from 1986-2017.
• Sue Seaver, who has been involved in District 4 Little
League and other softball endeavors for more than 30 years, serving as
tournament director of the Little League Softball World Series at Alpenrose
Stadium for 15 years.
• Tom Trebelhorn, who went from his playing days at Cleveland
High to a career in teaching, coaching and managing, with stints as skipper of
the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs.
• Rick Wise, a major league pitcher for 18 seasons who came
out of youth baseball in Northeast Program and then starred for Madison High.
Harrison has been doing 10 Grands events in
Portland for 18 years, packing the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and other
venues, through the Snowman Foundation he created to assist local youngsters in
their musical pursuits.
The Aug. 11 show will take place on Harrison's 60th birthday.
Friends of Baseball, formed in 2005, has helped provide nearly $3
million in grants, scholarship, field restoration and equipment, while
introducing or teaching baseball to more than 40,000 youngsters, mostly in the
Portland area.
The 10 pianos will be in center field at Ron Tonkin Field, with
reserved seating in the infield.
Among those assisting Harrison musically will be jazz legend Tom
Grant, Mac and Hailey Potts, John Nilsen, Portland Police Sgt. Jim Quakenbush,
and youth pianists Brendan Brewer, Trevor Natiuk, JJ and Gabriel Gui, Raley
Schweinfurth, and Cayla and Ashley Bleoaja.
Also performing will be vocalists Julianne Johnson, Molly Parker,
Erin Tamblyn and Jeff Lee, along with violinist Tanner Johnson and Haley
Johnsen from "American Idol."
Legendary Trail Blazers broadcaster Bill
Schonely will kick off the show, leading the crowd in a rendition of "Take
Me Out to the Ball Game."
A synchronized musical fireworks finale from behind the
center-field fence will cap the night.
Ticket prices start at $15 for general admission. Preferred seats
start at $29.
For tickets and more information, go to michaelallenharrison.com
and friendsofbaseball.org.
