Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely ended the home run derby in style, tossing his bat emphatically for all to see on his final swing. The fourth-year tight end swapped out his helmet and shoulder pads for a glove and bat alongside many of his teammates Sunday afternoon at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen.

Likely hosted the first Isaiah Likely Charity Softball Slam, which benefited Special Olympics Maryland. Fourteen of Likely’s teammates, including Trenton Simpson, Jordan Stout, Tavius Robinson, Devin Leary, Devontez Walker and Charlie Kolar, participated in the event.

The afternoon began with a home run derby followed by a six-inning game that pitted the offense against the defense, which ended in an 11-5 victory for the offense.

“I want to inspire hope, inspire a smile,” Likely said. “Having the fans watch us every Sunday, Monday, Thursday on the field with our helmets on, to finally get to take the helmet off and show them us outside of our comfort zone, playing another sport. Another sport we get to inspire. The youth really just coming up, letting them know you can make a change, you can do something.”

The idea for the game came to fruition after Likely reached out to his marketing team and expressed his desire for a community event. They suggested a charity softball game, and Likely was all in. Likely stressed that he played baseball growing up but was exclusively a pitcher and rarely hit.

While Likely homered on his final swing, long snapper Nick Moore was the star of the derby. Moore comes from a baseball background and was drafted by the Boston Red Sox out of high school in the 30th round of the 2011 MLB draft. He played five years of minor league baseball before transitioning to football at Georgia.

Despite not swinging a bat since 2019, Moore looked the part and left the fans enamored with his power. He mashed throughout the derby and hit the ball all over the park from both sides of the plate. After launching several left-handed home runs, Moore went back to his switch-hitting roots and also crushed a homer from the right side. The home run derby win was doubly sweet as Moore avenged a previous loss in his last charity softball game with the Saints in 2019.

“It’s a great event,” Moore said. “My mom taught special needs students for 20 years, so I’ve been around the Special Olympics for a long time. Anytime you can get involved in that, it’s great for the community. It’s great for the kids. Honestly, they’re some of the most fun people I know. I was really excited that Isaiah did this and gave us an opportunity to come out here and support. It was a great event, and we had a lot of fun.”

Throughout the six innings, the players and fans soaked in every moment with persistent trash talk on both sides. Likely’s voice echoed loudly above the rest in that aspect, waving bye and encouraging the defensive team to return to the dugout after each out.

The offense couldn’t contain their laughter after each defensive team miscue as their lead continued to grow.

Meanwhile, early on, Likely flashed the leather with a rangy catch in center field that brought lots of oohs and aahs from the crowd. At one point, Likely and his fellow offensive outfielders were so unimpressed by the defense’s hitting that they lied down in the outfield for several hitters.

Offensively, though, Leary and wide receiver Tylan Wallace were the stars with a combined three home runs. Wallace, the fifth-year wideout and return specialist, returned to his baseball roots. Wallace hit a pair of no-doubt home runs.

“It was a lot of fun,” he said. “Being able to just come out here, bond with your teammates, see the guys run around a little bit and being able to interact with the fans. It means the most. Being able to just be around here with the fans, sign some autographs and just really bond with your teammates, I enjoyed it. Not all teams do stuff like this. I’m happy Isaiah put it on, and I appreciate him doing this for the community.”

Throughout the afternoon, Ravens players gathered along the first and third-base line for autographs and interacted with fans. At one point, Stout accepted a generous offer from a fan in left field for french fries, the type of unique opportunity for fans to see some of their favorite players and their relationships as teammates in a different light.

Likely ended the afternoon by issuing a heartfelt thanks to those in attendance as he and his teammates lined up one final time to sign as many autographs as possible.

“I can’t tell you how much I love the city of Baltimore,” Likely said. “I appreciate you all coming out. I appreciate Special Olympics Maryland for having me. I appreciate the Baltimore boys, my brothers coming out here with me and having fun in front of you all. Next stop is the season.”

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