FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 18, 2010
Jack Sink Invitational Baseball Tournament to Benefit the Joe Martin ALS Foundation
CHARLOTTE, NC --- “Get up, go to the ballpark and do your very best.” After meeting Cal
Ripken Jr. on the day Cal broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games record, Joe Martin wrote this
quote and lived by it each day throughout his battle with ALS. Joe Martin, local banking
executive, community activist, and ALS patient, wanted to motivate others to do just that,
whatever their ballpark may be.
When local public and private high school teams compete this year in the 23rd Annual Jack Sink
Invitational Baseball Tournament, they will be living Joe’s motto. Held at Myers Park High
School this April, these players will not only play some great baseball, but they will also help the
local charity set up in Joe Martin’s name, the Joe Martin ALS Foundation.
Given only 20 months to live with his diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) in 1994, Joe was
losing the ability to walk when he traveled to see Ripken’s record breaking game in Baltimore on
September 7, 1995. Although the news of his diagnosis was devastating and the effects of the
disease were debilitating, Joe became determined to continue living life to the fullest. With the
assistance of his brother, former North Carolina Governor Jim Martin, Joe helped establish the
world class Carolinas Neuromuscular/ALS Center in Charlotte, NC. He wanted people with ALS
to have the best possible health care and he also wanted to help them live actively. For Joe,
hope, love, and a sense of purpose extended his 20 months to 12 years.
This year’s Jack Sink Invitational Baseball Tournament, sponsored by Fuel Pizza, will be played
April 5—8 at Myers Park High School and proceeds will benefit the Joe Martin ALS Foundation.
Starting with the Moe’s Southwest Grill Home Run Derby on Monday, the tournament consists
of four games per day and includes four local public high school vs. four local private high
school teams. This year’s field includes Myers Park High School, Providence High School, Ardrey
Kell High School, South Mecklenburg High School, Charlotte Christian School, Charlotte Country
Day School, Charlotte Latin School and Providence Day School. Several new promotional
elements will take place at this year’s tournament with both Fuel Pizza and Moe’s Southwest
Grill offering free pizza or burritos to players that hit their right and left field foul pole signs
respectively. In addition, each player that hits a home run during the tournament will receive a
commemorative display case for their home run ball provided by PowerAde.
The Jack Sink Invitational Baseball Tournament is the longest running high school baseball
tournament in the Charlotte area, and features four public high school matched up against four
private high schools. The tournament has displayed the talents of over 20 high school players
who have gone on to play at the professional level and over 100 who competed collegiately.
This year is no exception with several Division I recruits in the field including Ty Linton of
Charlotte Christian and Brian Holberton of Myers Park (both heading to UNC), Alex Baker of
Ardrey Kell (Georgetown), Logan Ratledge of Ardrey Kell and Brett Austin of Providence (both
to NCSU), Jake Watson of Charlotte Christian (USC), Joe Hager of Myers Park (UNCG)and Jack
Reinheimer of Ardrey Kell (East Carolina). Notable star players who have played in this
tournament in the past include Ray Durham of Harding, Mike Thomas of Richmond County and
Chad Tracy of West Mecklenburg. Plus, according to Greg Clewis, Myers Park’s Athletic
Director, who is also the director of the tournament, “the unique public/private format has
been a big hit among South Charlotte baseball fans.” Expect not only great baseball match-ups,
but also a great opportunity to support local high school athletics and a local charity that is dear
to Charlotteans’ hearts.
For daily tournament schedule please log onto www.mphsbaseball.com and click on the link for
the Jack Sink Tournament.
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About the Joe Martin ALS Foundation
Established in May 2007, in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Joe Martin ALS Foundation is the
realization of Joe Martin’s dream to help families cope and live fully with ALS. This 501(c) (3)
nonprofit provides free home care services to help families live actively with ALS. Wheelchair
accessible transportation, exercise/range of motion therapy, respite care, and assistive
technology loans and tech support are just a few of the services provided at no cost to those
battling this disease. Visit us at www.joemartinALSfoundation.org.
About Sideline Marketing Group
Sideline Marketing Group is Charlotte based sports marketing agency focused on helping high
schools realize their sports marketing potential by creating sponsorship opportunities and
building a promotional platform for sponsors. Visit us at www.sidelinemarketinggroup.com for
more information.