Two of the Poets’ Choice Award winners of the Buono’s Authentic Pizzeria Youth Poetry Contest will be in the spotlight as the Long Beach Armada professional baseball team plays its seventh game of the season at Blair Field in Long Beach Friday at 7:05 p.m.
Poets’ choice winners Antonio Andabaka, a fifth grader from Holy Trinity School in San Pedro and Madison Gifford, a third grader from Los Cerritos Elementary School in Long Beach, will read their poems as part of the pre-game festivities. One of them will also throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the game.
It’s all part of the baseball team’s spectacular Italian Heritage Night, which Buono’s is sponsoring. The evening also includes a rendition of the Italian National Anthem by the world-renowned operatic star Agostino Castagnola. Andrew Buono will sing the American National Anthem.
Cal State Long Beach Department of English professors Dr. Gerald Locklin and Rafael Zepeda and a panel of youth members of the San Pedro Boys & Girls Club TEENSupreme served as the judges for the two “overall best” categories–Poets’ and Kids’ Choice awards.
According to Locklin, the winning poems illustrated the best combinations of natural voice, musical sense, imagery, content, fidelity to the topic, and clarity.
“We are pleased to see more and more youth and schools participating each year and delighted that this educational experience has brought so much joy to the children and their families,” said restaurant general manager/owner Frank Buono.
For information about the annual school poetry contest contact Frank Buono at (562) 427-8665 or go to www.BuonosPizza.com. For information about Italian Heritage Night and the Armada ballgame call (562) 434-7161 or www.LongBeachArmada.com.
