By John W. Vorder Bruegge
EAGLE TIMES CORRESPONDENT
A Saturday afternoon wiffle ball game at Monadnock Park served as a great introduction to the city’s latest neighbors at two Hope 2 Freedom Recovery Homes (H2FRH) residences, Corey’s Place and the White House.
These homes serve as a starting-over point for many as they enter sobriety and recovery, and a game of wiffleball is just what owner-operators Shawn Cannizzaro and Melissa O’Brien ordered. Players enjoyed a fierce, friendly rivalry through six-plus innings.
The home team, the White House ― the first H2FRH location ― prevailed 11-2. Two late-inning homers broke open a pitchers’ duel and Corey’s Place, behind Richie’s tireless work on the mound, fought to the final out. His counterpart in the circle for the White House, Dom, earned the complete game win, pitching in his socks due to a broken toe.
The game was a three-generation celebration for O’Brien, with her mother, Cindy (three years clean and counting), in the stands while her daughter and grandchildren were on the diamond. H2FRH residents’ kids played, too. In fact, Sully’s daughter Jaylin went above and beyond, throwing pre-game batting practice and playing for Corey’s Place alongside her dad. As for the White House, when he wasn’t beside Daddy like a shirtless mini-me on the infield, Ryan’s son Fisher busied himself identifying insects, like the millipede he found near the home team’s dugout.
Residents interacted with all the children like familiar uncles, from a shared joke to cheering on each child’s effort. The kids seemed fast friends, too, as O’Brien’s teenage daughter tried to coax Fisher out of the dugout for a hug, and, one suspects, to urge him to play a joke on his Daddy. In turn, the older kids cheered on and occasionally trash-talked the grown-ups like teammates and opponents on the diamond are meant to.
Even Cannizzaro and O’Brien were subject to their residents’ trash-talk and teasing, along with a few quips about reduced rent or fees in exchange for, say, leaving a fat pitch over the middle of the plate for Cannizzaro to feast on.
Despite the friendly ragging, the game was the centerpiece of a celebration for the residents earned an afternoon of good, clean fun.
Before the start of the game, Cannizzaro lauded the residents for their hard work, saying everyone was “working and ‘working the program,’” as well as “employed, doing their 12-step programs, [staying] clean, buying vehicles, reuniting with children, getting puppies” and so on.
Cannizzaro made it clear to point out that these may seem like everyday milestones to those outside the recovery community, but for someone in recovery, every day out of the shadow of addiction is a blessing.
Surprise goodie bags were then given to every player and invited guest, Claremont Mayor Dale Girard. On the count of three, players retrieved their Team Corey’s Place or Team White House T-shirts. Next, Cannizzaro and O’Brien presided over an award ceremony, where residents Sully and John received a “Hope Token” representing the one year of sobriety each had recently marked. White House resident (and starting catcher) Marcus received a Hope Token for his ninth month of sobriety, later pointing out while waiting his turn at bat, that he was now just days away from reaching month number 10.
After the Hope Tokens were distributed came the ceremonial first pitch. Mayor Girard did his constituents proud with a solid strike, and it was time for the first Hope 2 Freedom Recovery House Wiffle Ball Challenge to begin.
Cannizzaro, O’Brien, and her children, Faith and Christian, are the family at the heart of the extended H2FRH “family.” They have plans to expand availability in the H2FRH family by adding a third house―for female residents―in the coming months, which will be called Donna’s Place (in honor of Cannizzaro’s mother).
Each house has a room dedicated to, or named for, a family member who helped Cannizzaro or O’Brien realize their own self-worth while holding onto hope. House names and even program logos honor cherished loved ones both living and dead. Most notably, Corey’s Place is named for O’Brien’s late husband and Faith’s father, Corey Merrill, who died of an overdose before Faith turned one.
The H2FRH residents and “family” try and succeed one day―and one play―at a time. Cannizzaro and O’Brien wouldn’t have it any other way.
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