Hampton History Museum Hosts ‘Play Ball: Sports of Hampton’

Courtesy of the Peninsula Pilots: Slyder, the Peninsula Pilots’ mascot

Hampton, Virginia- Fans of the Peninsula Pilots, Hampton High School Crabbers, Phoebus High School Phantoms, Kecoughtan High School Warriors and other area teams are encouraged to attend the Hampton History Museum’s free 2nd Saturday event “Play Ball: Sports of Hampton,” on Saturday, April 9, 11:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m., to explore the history of these teams and other local organized sports.

The focus of the event will be on basketball, baseball, and football. Visitors will meet high school athletes, learn about the history of each sport and team, practice skills to improve their game, and learn the history of landmark buildings such as the Boo Williams Sportsplex and Darling Stadium.

Bethel High School’s girl’s junior varsity tennis team will be at the museum demonstrating equipment, explaining the rules of the sport, and sharing what it is like to be a student athlete.

Slyder, the Peninsula Pilots mascot, will be at the museum from 11:00 a.m. to noon for hugs and photographs.

By participating in a short writing exercise about why they love sports, children can enter a raffle to win a family four pack to the Norfolk Tides.

Family activities are free of charge and take place in the museum’s Great Hall and courtyard continuously from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Admission to the museum galleries is a special $3.00 per person reduced rate on 2nd Saturdays.

The Hampton History Museum is located at 120 Old Hampton Lane, Hampton, VA. There is plenty of free parking in the garage across the street from the museum. For more information, dial 757/727-1610, visit www.hamptonhistorymuseum.org, or follow the museum on Facebook Facebook/HamptonHistoryMuseum and Twitter @HamptonHistoryM.