Special pitching matchup between Groome and Mondile set for May 16

Jason Groome of Barnegat High School and Tyler Mondile of Gloucester Catholic will square off in a highly anticipated, specially scheduled pitching matchup May 16 at Campbell's Field on the Camden riverfront.

The pitchers will share more than a mound.

Both athletes have designated charities to which all proceeds from the event will be donated.

Tickets are $5 and available at the gate for the showdown between Groome, a lefthander regarded as possibly the No. 1 overall pick by the Phillies in the June 9 major-league draft, and Mondile, a righthanded Florida State recruit and potential high draft pick as well.

The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. at the stadium that was the former home of the Camden Riversharks, and features a picturesque nighttime view with the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and Philadelphia skyline as a backdrop. Dozens of pro baseball scouts are expected to attend.

Groome has designated Children's Hospital of Philadelphia as the charity to which his half of the proceeds will go.

"I had a lot of family members suffer from cancer," Groome said in a text message. "Some survived and some it got the best of.

"I want to know that I made an impact on one of these children's lives by doing this. I know I can only do so much, but I just want to see these kids smile because to me that means the most."

Mondile's half of the proceeds will benefit Kari Jenkinson, a 15-year-old, three-sport athlete from Audubon High School who is battling brain cancer.

"I think it's a great thing that I'm sponsoring Kari," Mondile said in a text message. "She's very talented and very nice. I'm going to try everything I can to get the win and get as many strikeouts as I can."

To stress the good cause for which both athletes will be pitching, organizers have created the Twitter hashtag #Ks4theKids to promote the event.

panastasia@phillynews.com

@PhilAnastasia

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