The big game in progress on the Ballfield
By Alex Toole
When I was planning for the summer of 2025, I wanted to bring back some of Pine Island’s old traditions as a novel way to maintain the continuity of our camp’s unique culture. I started combing through archival photos and documents, searching for events or activities that had been done regularly in decades past. Two immediately stood out: Beach Day and the Really Minor Memorial Baseball League.
Campers relax in a giant trench turned improvised shelter.
Beach Day, as I understand it, was a creation of the late, great Director Emeritus Monte Ball. The tradition went something like this: Monte and a counselor would put on a skit at breakfast, pretending to get into an argument. Monte would then “fire” the counselor, who would announce that as a revolt of sorts, he was taking the entire camp to the beach. At that moment, all the other staff would rush in to celebrate, and soon the campers would be boarding buses bound for Reid State Park. It hadn’t happened for about 40 years! This summer, Associate Director Hannah Gordon and Assistant Director/Head Counselor Ben Cabot pulled off a modern version while I was away handling out-of-camp business. Their skit culminated in a full day at Reid State Park for the whole camp, and it was a smashing success. I was glad to be able to meet them there and even help dig a giant trench! Everyone loved the day, and Hannah’s planning and leadership made the trip run seamlessly.
The final result: a close win for the Henchmen, with abundant hits and errors.
The Really Minor Memorial Baseball League, played with a tennis ball and spearheaded by longtime Assistant Director Ned Bishop in the 1970s and 80s, also made a return—though with a few updates. This year we organized a full camp wiffleball game on the Mainland Ballfield, named, in a nod to its predecessor, the Really Minor Memorial Baseball League Annual Duck Itch Awareness Competition of Wiffleball. Campers and staff were split into two teams, the Henchmen and the Sacred Animals, for a full nine-inning showdown. Temporary walls from the riflery range served as outfield fences, an American flag was raised in center field, and PIC-themed sponsors were posted on the scoreboard (SPAM, Boston Whaler, Hammond Lumber, and more). With a battery-powered speaker and microphones in hand, Assistant Director Taylor Clyde and I provided play-by-play commentary for the entire game. The energy was incredible; campers and staff alike were fully engaged, and it was one of the most fun full-camp activities we’ve had in years.
Bringing back these traditions was about more than just nostalgia—it’s a way to honor Pine Island’s history and maintain the cultural through-lines that connect generations of campers and staff. Seeing the excitement and joy from both Beach Day and the Really Minor Memorial Baseball League reminded me why traditions like these are worth preserving: they create shared memories, strengthen our community, and ensure that the spirit of Pine Island continues to thrive.
This article was originally published in the February 2026 edition of The Pine Needle.