As Barry Buchowski, 18, belted his third home run in Chase Stadium, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, one of his biggest fans cheered and screamed as he watched on a television thousands of miles away.
Anthony Ambrose, 9, can’t play baseball anymore, but his love for the game hasn’t dulled at all.
The third-grade student at South Valley Elementary had to give up the game when his cerebral palsy made it too difficult to play. However, the young Yankees fan still loves the sport and was honored by his good friend when Buchowski chose Anthony as the student he would represent in the Sixth-Annual Power Showcase International Finals.
One of the top high school baseball prospects in the country, Buchowski belted three home runs in the international competition — the farthest going 412 feet — in honor of Anthony. Buchowski was chosen to represent the state by the competition, which informed his coach that he would be selected for the showcase.
“It’s a great experience to go out there and to help out Anthony. It was just a great time for me. I got a phone call after I was finished hitting from Anthony’s mom. You get a great feeling and it compares to nothing else in the world,” Buchowski said. “I’ve known Anthony for a few years now. I helped him out with another fundraiser in town a while ago. I told him that I was going out to a homerun derby and I told him I wanted to represent him. I felt obligated to represent him because I’ve helped Craig in baseball and we’ve been family friends for three or four years now.”
Buchowksi, a junior at St. Augustine Prep, is already receiving attention from Major League Baseball teams. The Cleveland Indians, the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins have already scouted the outstanding catcher for the 2013 draft.
But to Anthony?
Barry is just simply a good friend.
“I thought it was very nice of him. I didn’t think he would pick me to do it. I thought he would pick someone else,” Anthony said.
During the interview he was wearing one of Barry’s jerseys.
“I’m very proud of Barry for hitting the three homeruns. It was great,” he said.
The young New York Yankees fan said it was great to watch Barry hit home runs in his honor at the showcase.
State Sen. Dianne Allen honored the duo last week, as she personally invited both of them to her office. She awarded Barry with a citation for representing the state in the derby and talked politics with Anthony.
Anthony is extremely into politics, as he personally met Gov. Christie last year to discuss special education in school districts throughout the state.
“It was unbelievable to meet one of the senators of New Jersey,” Barry said. “To be able to represent Anthony and the state of New Jersey, I couldn’t be happier.”
