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No Grinch, just Pinch at Blue Crabs' breakfast
Team welcomes community, kids to Christmas party
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photos by EMILY BARNES
Briana Bowen, 7, of Bel Alton gets close to "Old Saint Pinch" for a photograph, during a Southern Maryland Blue Crabs holiday breakfast event Saturday at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf.
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An excited Mia Clark shared breakfast and a photo with Santa Claws on Saturday morning.
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs sponsored the event at Regency Furniture Stadium and gave fans a chance to meet Old Saint Pinch (the Crabs' mascot in seasonal attire).
"He's nice and soft," said Mia, 5. "He looks like a real Santa Claus, but he's not. The real Santa Claus lives at the North Pole."
Pinch donned a white wig and Santa suit and sat next to a beautifully decorated Christmas tree.
"At 5 years old, this is the first year Santa is cool," said Kerry Clark, the mother of two.
However, not all members of the Clark clan were as eager as Mia.
For Sarah Clark, 2, "Pinch is a little frightening," Kerry Clark said. "She enjoys him from afar."
Heidi Tobias of Calvert County brought her two sons, Max, 2, and Brooks, 5.
Much like Sarah Clark, Max likes to admire Pinch from afar.
The Tobias family sat near the front of the room, but when it came time to take the family portrait with Pinch Claus, Heather Tobias had to hold the little one.
"He absolutely does not like Pinch," she said.
Breakfast took place in the stadium's Legends Club and included French toast, sausage and orange juice.
Guests had the opportunity to participate in a behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium and a kid-friendly photo frame craft project provided by Tri-County Youth Services Bureau.
This is Tri-County's second year participating in the event, Shannon Hudson, the organization's resource coordinator, said.
Anthony Perry, a catcher on the team, came from Boston to give back to the fans, he told a reporter, adding that "a lot of fans have stopped by and the kids really enjoy it."
According to Courtney Freeman, marketing manager for the Blue Crabs, about 135 guests passed through between 8 a.m. and noon.
"It was actually more than last year," she said. "Last year, we had about 120."
Joan Peacock said Saturday "was all about him," as she pointed to her 3-year-old son, Clark Peacock IV, who loves the baseball stadium. "We drive by it every day on the way to school."
"I'm sure he told Pinch that he wanted big trucks and little cars [for Christmas]," she said as her son sat on Pinch's lap.
Spotted near the back of the room were Charlie, 77, and Ann Waters, 57.
The father and daughter have been loyal season ticket holders since the team's first season.
When asked if they had a kid there, Ann Waters responded, "I'm a kid, although I'm not going to sit on Pinch's lap," she laughed.
"We love [the Blue Crabs] and will continue to support [them]," she said. "They are doing a good job and are really trying to give back to the community."
Chris Allen, general manager for the Blue Crabs, said they hope to make breakfast with Santa Claws an annual event.
All of the money raised goes to a good cause, he said. "This year, it just happened to hit closer to home."
The Blue Crabs will donate 100 percent of the money raised on Saturday to the family of a former employee, Wayne Yopp, who died without life insurance.
Saturday's "Breakfast With Santa Claws" was one of multiple events held to raise money for the family. As a result, "we are going to be donating about $1,300," Freeman said.
