Orioles Reach Host Birdland Golf Classic In Lakewood Ranch

The Baltimore Orioles' third annual Birdland Golf Classic is accepting registration for the Feb. 20 event.

The Orioles host the event through its charity OriolesREACH to benefit the Miracle League of Manasota, which dedicates itself to providing people of any ability to play baseball.

The golf classic starts with registration and lunch at 11 a.m. Feb. 20 and a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.miracleleaguemanasota.org.

The classic will feature a silent auction and the chance to play a round with current and former Orioles players and coaches. Manager Buck Showalter and current Orioles Jim Johnson, J.J. Hardy, Adam Jones and Matt Wieters are among the many Orioles scheduled to attend.

Registration is now open for golfers and corporate partners. There are multiple levels of participation available, including MVP Sponsor packages which consist of recognition as a presenting sponsor, a foursome with the opportunity to select your Orioles playing partner, four infield box seats to a 2013 Orioles Spring Training game, and more.  Since its inception, the Birdland Golf Classic has raised more than $56,000 for the Miracle League of Manasota.

For the 14,000 school-aged children with disabilities and their adult counterparts in Sarasota and Manatee counties, a synthetically surfaced baseball field with all the requisite amenities was built last year in Longwood Park, just off University Parkway in Sarasota.

Sarasota County committed $500,000 to the capital improvement of Longwood Park, while the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates contributed $150,000 for the field.