Grace Opinker

MERRILLVILLE — Nearly 500 people gathered on blankets and lawn chairs Sunday afternoon to watch the Deep River Grinders step up to the plate for Shriners Children's Hospital.

The Grinders Vintage Baseball team hosted the Shriners for an annual charity game dating back to 2012. Former player Tony Rogers partnered with the Grinders to raise money for Shriners after his son underwent multiple procedures to repair a bone he was born without in his left arm.

Leading into Sunday's event at Deep River County Park in Merrillville, the benefit game had raised more than $45,000 to date.

The main goal was to exceed $50,000 this year.

The Lake County Parks Department spent the first half of the week counting the proceeds raised. Parks department CEO Jim Basala announced Wednesday

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