Baseball tournament to fight Lou Gehrig's disease

The Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the ALS Association and the Conejo Valley Little League are once again stepping up to the plate to battle Lou Gehrig's disease, or ALS.

Beginning today, Conejo Valley Little League will host the 2nd Annual "Strike Out Lou Gehrig's Disease" All-Star Tournament.

The tournament runs through Sunday and will feature more than 20 All-Star teams from San Bernardino, Ventura, Los Angeles and Kern counties.

There are three age groups competing: 12 and under, 10 and under and 8 and under.

All games will be played at the Conejo Valley Little League fields in Thousand Oaks.

Sponsorship money goes towards ALS patient services within each of the teams' home counties, and to help find a cure.

The City of Thousand Oaks has already proclaimed the week of the tournament as Strike Out Lou Gehrig's Disease Week.

"This is a great chance for the youth in our service area to make an important contribution in helping people with ALS," said Fred Fisher, executive director of the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the ALS Association.

"Baseball and ALS are indelibly linked because of Lou Gehrig and Catfish Hunter both succumbing to the disease.

Partnering with the Conejo Valley Little League will bring an increased awareness of ALS to the entire Southern California community while giving kids the chance to play a game they love to help others."

The public is invited to kick off the tournament today with a free baseball skills clinic followed by a barbecue beginning at 4 p.m. at the Conjeo Community Park baseball field.

Former major league players from the Angels, along with former MLB player and local pitching coach Mark Davis, will be on hand to give instruction on how to improve your hitting and pitching. In addition, there will be autograph booths and raffles for baseball memorabilia.

ALS is a incurable progressive neuromuscular disease that can strike anyone at anytime. It attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control movements such as walking, speaking and breathing. The average life expectancy after diagnosis is between two and five years.

Businesses and individuals wishing to become sponsors can contact Giovanna D'Angelo, director of special events for ALSAGLAC at (818) 865-8067.