As the Ravens prepare to take another swing at a Super Bowl run this fall, numerous players took time Sunday to take a crack at something else: a charity event for a good cause.
Fans saw some of their favorite Ravens players trade in their helmets and pads for bats and gloves Sunday afternoon when tight end Isaiah Likely hosted his inaugural charity softball slam at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen. Many Ravens players attended the event, including running back Keaton Mitchell, tight end Charlie Kolar, linebackers Trenton Simpson and Tavius Robinson, punter Jordan Stout, and wide receivers Tylan Wallace and Devontez Walker.
The game, which ended in an 11-5 victory for Likely and the Ravens' offense, featured countless errors, poorly timed swings, and amusing moments. But the outcome of the game was far outweighed by the cause it supported.
Likely partnered with Special Olympics Maryland for the event. Special Olympics Maryland provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
"Pairing up with Special Olympics is just a dream come true," Likely said.
Likely, entering his fourth season with Baltimore, worked with his marketing team to find a way to give back to the community. Thus, the idea for a softball slam was born.
"[I want to] inspire hope, inspire a smile," Likely said. "Having [the fans] watch us every Sunday, Monday, Thursday on the field with our helmets on, to finally get to take the helmet off and show them us outside of our comfort zone, playing another sport, we get to inspire the youth really just coming up."
Special Olympics Maryland President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Schmutz was elated to see some of the nonprofit's athletes be up close and personal with Ravens players.
"It's a great day out here," Schmutz said. "Lots of Ravens fans. The Ravens have treated our athletes great. It's a great day for these guys to feel included and feel valued."
The star of the afternoon may have been a player that doesn't always receive the same recognition as other players: long snapper Nick Moore.
Moore won the home run derby before the game, blasting six balls into the home-run zone from both sides of the plate. Moore, who spent four seasons in minor league baseball after being drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2011, hadn't picked up a bat since 2019. That time away from the diamond didn't seem to impact his confidence in the batter's box.
"This was a lot of fun," Moore said. "I hadn't done one of these in a long time and coming back out and swinging the bat a little bit was fun."
The 32-year-old Moore was even happier to support a great cause.
Moore's mother, Shari, taught special education elementary students with moderate to severe autism for roughly 20 years. That gave him a front-row seat to see the impact organizations like Special Olympics Maryland have.
"I've been around Special Olympics for a long time, and anytime you can get involved in that, it's great for the community, it's great for the kids," Moore said. "Honestly, they're some of the most fun people I know, so I was really excited that Isaiah did this and gave us an opportunity to come out here and support them."
Other standouts from the game included Wallace, who hit two home runs, and quarterback Devin Leary, who also blasted one out.
Entering the final year of his rookie contract with the Ravens, Likely closed out the event with a message to the crowd.
"I can't say how much I love the city of Baltimore," he said.
