Thumbs up: Not bad for a 50-year-old, soon-to-be-retired congressman.

Todd Platts threw around 80 pitches Thursday before the Revolution took on the Sugar Land Skeeters at Sovereign Bank Stadium, raising more than $2,000 for the York County Children's Advocacy Center and the Children's Home of York.

Batters paid $100 to take 10 swings off Platts, a former Little Leaguer who's also donned a uniform as catcher in the annual congressional baseball game.

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."

Platts' efforts and a portion of ticket sales for the picnic area of the stadium for Thursday's game netted the two charities a total of $2,400, said Eric Menzer, Revolution general manager.

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," he said.

Thumbs up: To Russell E. Horn Sr., a 100-year-old Spring Garden Township businessman who recently donated $1 million to Penn State Harrisburg for a place for students to study, worship and hang out.

Horn, who graduated from Penn State University in 1933, donated the money to support construction of a student enrichment center.

The center will help bring together many programs that had previously been scattered around the Harrisburg campus. It will feature a learning center with tutoring services and a spiritual meditation center for nondenominational religious practices.

"I have been a Penn State man since I graduated in 1933," Horn said. "I have received more from Penn State than I have given to them."

Horn is the founder and retired chairman of York-based PACE Resources, which led to the development of the engineering and architectural firm Buchart Horn.