Bradenton Nine Devils celebration Oct. 22

How many of you remember or heard of the old Bradenton Nine Devils?
They were our town’s black baseball team that thrived during segregation in the independent Florida State Negro League from 1937 to 1956.
Waymon Armstead, James “Son” Copeland and Morris Paskell are among those surviving Nine Devils, whose home games at long gone Roush Field, as well as McKechnie Field, were festive affairs in the community.
On Oct. 22 at the 13th Av Dream Center, there will be a celebration, “Innings Ago,” honoring those players, that team and their legacy.
Families of deceased Nine Devils, the ballclub’s fans and public are invited to attend and reminisce about that bygone era.
Call 779-3598 for details.

Outgoing United Way honcho Jerry Koontz was runnerup in the Women’s Leadership Initiative’s second annual Bling Fling celebrity bartender competition.
Joltin’ Jerry’s potent “Appletini” was nosed out by Bling Fling King John Moyer’s funky Caribbean concoction, “All Day, All Night Marianne,” named for his wife, a self-proclaimed beach bum.
The event helped raise $1,500 at the Dan and Corrine McClure Center in Lakewood Ranch.

Welcome back to the “pilgrims” from Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, who were among the estimated 1.5 million people attending World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain.
The pilgrims included Joshua Audet, Logan Jones, Spencer Jones, Andrew Kurutz, Shari Kurutz, Celeste Matthews, Luke Smith, Kandice Steele and Gina and Jeff Young.

Don’t forget Manatee High’s spanking new Davis Building Performing Arts Theater if you want to watch the Hurricanes play nationally ranked Good Counsel tonight in Olney, Md., on three big screens and hear it on surround sound.
Tickets are $10.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.
 
Read more Friday in Vin's People on Bradenton.com.