This coming Saturday, June 27, at Union Hill Ballpark, west of New Prague, at 5 p.m. the National Anthem will kick off the Fourth Annual Home Run Derby organized by Home Town Bats. This family friendly fundraiser features batters from the Dakota-Rice-Scott League and other leagues from across Minnesota hitting for the fences to see who can slam the most home runs.
This fundraiser entertains a crowd of baseball enthusiasts while bringing tears of joy to a special family in need. Money raised at Home Run Derby go to help a family who has a child with medical needs. This year the Tveitbakk family from Lakeville are those benefitting from the event. Analise Tveitbakk is a two-year-old spirited girl who was diagnosed with Moyamoya disease at only 7 months of age. Moyamoya disease is an extremely rare, progressive cerebrovascular disorder caused by blocked arteries at the base of the brain. These arteries are associated with the regulation of motor control. In America, there are .086 cases per 100,000 people a year.
Analise, daughter of Jarred Tveitbakk and Ana Winchester, has already had two brain surgeries and two internal brain shunt procedures for the leaking of cerebral spinal fluid around her brain. She also has had a stroke and it is unknown what cognitive skills may have been damaged. Analise also has Morning Glory Syndrome, which will affect her vision for the rest of her life.
All are welcome to Home Run Derby, which offers....
To see more on this story pick up the June 25, 2020 print edition of The New Prague Times.