Daniel Alarcon, a 5-year-old boy involved in one of the Bloomingdale Park District’s t-ball programs, was selected to throw out the first pitch at the Thursday, July 10, Chicago Cubs game. Throwing out the first pitch at the Cubs game is a once in a life opportunity for Daniel – a true-blue Cubs fan.

But this opportunity has special meaning for Daniel because every effort is being made to give televised game access to his step-father serving overseas. Daniel’s step-father, 26-year-old Private First Class Christopher Raya, has been serving in the Army since April 2007 and has been stationed in Sadir City, Iraq since October 2007.

This opportunity was made possible by the Illinois Park and Recreation Association who has been hosting group outings with the Chicago Cubs since the mid-1980s. Daniel Alarcon was chosen randomly by the Bloomingdale Park District for this honor. Not only does a representative of the association get to throw out the first pitch at the game, but several t-ball teams from area park districts are given the chance to play t-ball in the Wrigley Field outfield before the start of the game. The Illinois Park and Recreation Association began this outing as a means to give young kids the experience of playing on a major league ball field, as well as raise awareness of parks and recreation in Illinois.

There are 7 park districts participating in the t-ball games in the outfield: the Bloomingdale Park District, Dolton Park District, Elk Grove Park District, Winfield Park District, Woodstock Park District, Paxton Park District and the Rantoul Park District.

In addition to the t-ball groups playing on the field, there will be over 1,500 park district campers in attendance at the game in support of parks and recreation…and the Cubs. It will be quite the site to see all those colorful day camp shirts littered throughout Wrigley Field.

Tune in to WGN Thursday around 1pm to catch the game…and hopefully see Daniel throw out the first pitch allow with thousands of his fellow park and recreation campers watching on!