Elliot Mast is a 14 year old baseball player with aspirations that include playing in the major leagues.  He plays travel baseball for two different teams, the Altoona Curve Juniors and the Evoshield Canes.  Sounds like your typical developing teenage baseball player who takes the game seriously.  But there is much more to Elliot’s story than that of the average teenage baseball player.

Elliot was born with a club foot.  Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh helped him to work through his ailment. At the age of 11, Elliot decided he wanted to give back.  He began his own charity titled, “For the Kids”. To date Elliot has raised more than $10,000 and has his sights set even hire. Phoenix Bats has now teamed up with Elliot and “For the Kids” to help raise money.

                           

For further information on Elliot’s story and the “For the Kids” foundation CLICK HERE.

Below are the results of a recent interview that Elliot conducted with PBR Pennsylvania:

PBR:  At what age did you start playing travel baseball and have you always played for the Aloona Curve Juniors and the Evoshield Canes?
Elliot: I started playing travel baseball during my last two seasons in little league. 2010 and 2011 I traveled with my little league all-star team.  This is my first year with the Curve Juniors and Evoshield Canes.

PBR:  How did you come up with the idea of tying your love for baseball in with doing some good for some children in need?
Elliot: I saw a Major League Baseball television advertisement with New York Yankees outfielder, Curtis Granderson, two years ago talking about his love to help kids stay in school. He shared information on his charity and I talked to my dad about starting my own.  We wrote a letter to Children’s Hospital over two years ago.  They sent me back a contract and the rest is history.  I was born with a club foot and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh fixed it and I can play baseball thanks to them!  So I play for the hospital and for the kids who can’t play!  I have been throwing a ball since I have been about three years old so it was a natural fit.  I have developed some good relationships with MLB players like Cub and dear friend Paul Maholm through my charity.  God gave me a gift and I want to use the gift to help others!  On August 10^th I will be having a FTK for the kids auction at Peoples Gas Field (Home of the Curve) to raise money. Last year we raised thousands of dollars by auctioning off tons of awesome autographed sports memorabilia.

PBR:  What was the process by which you were able to work out an arrangement with Phoenix Bats?
Elliot:  I contacted Phoenix Bats and shared my story. First I love and prefer wood bats, actually I think I hit pretty well with wood. I hit a few  home runs in little league with wood and my first home run during a practice out of our Curve Juniors field with wood. I didn’t want to use the same bats every other player used. I wanted to team up with a company that could help me share my passion for baseball and for the kids at Children’s Hospital.  When I talked with Seth, we discussed how the partnership would look. I became a youth spokesman for the company. I will be using three custom bats by Phoenix all season long.  Phoenix contacted Children’s and worked out the details.  Here they are:  If any player wants to help the kids at Children’s and needs bats, go to my blog: www.elliotmast.blogspot.com and contact me for a coupon code. This special coupon code will do two things 1. For everything you purchase you will get a 10% discount, 2. For everything you purchase 15% will go directly to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh FTK = for the kids.

PBR:  What are your goals moving forward as a player?
Elliot:  I plan to play hard and do my best to be a leader. I want to work hard to inspire other kids while playing this game.  Baseball is in my blood and I hope to go all the way into the majors.  My goal is to go pro and be a positive role model.  My dream!  How can you not be romantic about baseball!  God gave me something special and I will work with it until He says that I am done. I live by a couple of quotes:
"Be strong, and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. (2 Chronicles 14:7)", and "Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them..... a desire, a dream, a vision." 

PBR:  What would be your ultimate dream as it pertains to your charity?
Elliot: First I have been working with a friend from Texas, and he is my age too. He contacted me last year and wanted to do the same thing I am doing here for the Austin Children’s Shelter in his area.  So long term, my goal is to inspire other players (of any sport) to be that role model, to think about others and not yourself and make a difference in your own community.  So first, I would like to inspire and motivate others to start making a difference, and secondly grow and continue my FTK=For The Kids charity for my entire career of baseball from travel to high school to college and the MLB.