Babs Platts looked on as her son hurled baseballs toward the plate at Sovereign Bank Stadium on Thursday.

"He said he's going to pitch underhand to me," said the 79-year-old mother of U.S. Rep. Todd Platts.

The outgoing Republican congressman took to the mound before the York Revolution played the Sugar Land Skeeters to raise money for the York County Children's Advocacy Center and the Children's Home of York.

Batters paid $100 take 10 swings off Platts.

Babs Platts and her grandson, Joe Lee, split their allotted swings.

Clad in a batting helmet and armed with a bat, Babs Platts took to the batter's box as her son moved a few feet closer to the plate.

Keeping his word, Platts lofted the ball into the air as his mother, a former softball player, swung and missed the ball each time.

"That's the only time he's struck me out," Babs Platts said with a laugh after her turn at bat.

Charity: Lee, Platts' nephew, fared better during his at bat, despite Platts' pitches hitting 59 mph.

In his first ever time facing his uncle, the left-hander drove a line drive toward the outfield.

"He was going after me," Lee said. "But I made him work."

After his time on the mound, Platts said he had a feeling Lee would come out swinging hard.

"I had to be ready for one coming back at me," Platts said.

Platts' efforts and a portion of ticket sales for the picnic area of the stadium for Thursday's game netted the York County Children's Advocacy Center and the Children's Home of York a total of $2,400, said Eric Menzer, Revolution general manager.

Family: Lee earned a baseball signed by Roger Clemens, and other prizes, when he was selected as the best batter during the charity event by Revolution staff.

All batters also received prizes for their efforts.

After hurling between 75 and 80 balls, Platts joked that he was the second famous 50-year-old to pitch at the stadium within the week, referring to Clemens.

Kevin Jackson of West York said he was impressed with the congressman's pitches after going to bat against him.

"He's pretty good," Jackson said. "Pretty consistent."

Baseball has been a big part of Platts' life; he started playing organized ball at age 8 on a York Little League team.

Both his sons have played the game, and T.J. Platts, the older of the two boys, is the batboy for the Revolution and served as catcher for his father during the event.

Pitching to his son made the charity event all the more special, Platts said.

"Growing up here in York and being able to pitch at my hometown stadium was incredible," Platts said.

- Reach Greg Gross at ggross@yorkdispatch.com.