O's to hold charity golf tournament in February

BALTIMORE -- The O's will hold the 5th Annual OriolesREACH Birdland Golf Classic at The Founders Club in Sarasota, Fla., on Feb. 23, with the event benefiting the Miracle League of Manasota.

The Miracle League is an organization dedicated to providing an opportunity for every person to play baseball, regardless of their ability. The team announced Friday that registration is currently open for golfers and corporate partners.

The event begins with registration and lunch at 11 a.m. ET, with a shotgun start set for 12:30 p.m. The classic will feature a silent auction and the chance to play a round with current and former Orioles players and coaches.

In four years, the Birdland Golf Classic has raised more than $125,000 for the Miracle League of Manasota. There are several different options for corporate partners, including MVP Sponsor packages which consist of recognition as a presenting sponsor, a foursome with the opportunity to select your Orioles playing partner and four infield box seats to a 2015 Orioles Spring Training game.

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 in 2012 in Longwood Park, 6050 Longwood Run Boulevard, north of University Parkway in Sarasota. Sarasota County committed $500,000 to building the field, with the O's and Pirates each contributing $75,000. Since opening in March '12, the league has played six seasons.

For more information or to register for the golf event, visit www.miracleleaguemanasota.org or contact the Miracle League of Manasota at (941) 225-2966 or [email protected]. The entry deadline is Feb. 8.