By: Jeff Meade

Every kid who plays Little League baseball harbors a fantasy. It usually involves walking onto a lush, sunlit Major League ballfield surrounded by thousands of fans who greet your arrival with a deafening roar.

The Phillies can’t promise the deafening roar, but for Brian Morris, former pitcher for the Irish National Baseball Team, they’ll fulfill all the other elements of the fantasy. It’s all part of the Phils’ Irish Hertitage Day Saturday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. Morris will throw out the first pitch.

In addition, well-known local Irish singer Vince Gallagher will sing the National Anthem. Also on field, the Phanatic will join with dancers from the Lynn Academy and the Cummins School in an Irish tribute. (That alone is worth the price of admission. Wonder if the Phanatic will wear a curly wig?)

Still not Irish enough for ya? Try this on for size: The Bogside Rogues will play at the third base gate, and the Lynn and Cummins dancers will get jiggy at the first- and second-base gates. The Phils promise Irish delicacies at the concession stands, as well. (No, not corned beef and cabbage hoagies or blood pudding burgers.)

On-field highlights begin at 3:30.

For Morris, of course, the highlight will be walking onto the lush green field at Citizens Bank Park to toss out the first pitch. He’ll also happily accept a donation of baseball equipment from the Phillies to help adult and youth baseball in Ireland.

“Just like every other little leaguer, I had always dreamed of playing pro ball and pitching in front of 40,000 fans,”  says Morris. “And although that didn't quite work out, this experience may give a little taste of what that feeling is actually like. I'm really excited and honored to have this opportunity and also really happy that Baseball Ireland is getting such a much-needed donation.”

All the bats, bases, bases and other equipment will come in handy, Morris says. A lot of people don’t know that baseball is played in Ireland—let alone, that there is a national team—so baseball in Eire can use all the support it can get.  The recent documentary about the Irish National Baseball team, The Emerald Diamond, helped get the word out, but every little bit helps. (Read more about The Emerald Diamond.)

“Funding is tough for them due to baseball no longer being an Olympic sport after 2008. And since Major League Baseball has decided to go with the World Baseball Classic as their main international competition, the countries with young programs really need funding assistance from MLB to help get their programs running strong,” Morris says.

You can join the Phillies in helping Irish Baseball. Visit www.supportirishbaseball.com or www.baseballireland.com.

And join all of your fellow Irish baseball fans Saturday at Citizens Bank Park.