Kornacki: Boys & Girls Club Enjoys Athletics-Academic Twinbill
5/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 17, 2016
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Gabby McKizie-Dulaney loved watching her first baseball game Tuesday night (May 17) at Fisher Stadium. She came along with 29 other members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Flint after receiving an invitation to be guests of the University of Michigan.
Then she learned that the game and a pizza dinner weren't all there was. A very large box of books, collected before the game from fans who received free tickets for donations, was coming next week to them. Wolverine players will deliver the books and speak at the club on the importance of reading and education.
"We are getting books, too?" Gabby, 9, asked. "Oh, my gosh! Wow."
Donivin Cassetty, 11, said, "It's nice that kids who want to read will get some books to read."
Stacy Winchester, teen services program coordinator at the club -- a huge Michigan fan even before this -- was ecstatic about bringing the kids to the game and the literary offerings.
"This is wonderful," said Winchester. "We teach academics before athletics at the Boys & Girls Club. So, baseball and books fits. It's great."
Gabby McKizie-Dulaney (L) and Donivin Cassetty (R) interviewing with Steve Kornacki
Jevon Moore, assistant director of the athletic department leadership development team, said the idea came from University-wide collaboration.
"We've wanted to do something for the Flint area," said Moore, alluding to the city's clean water issues that gained national attention. "We've been talking with some of our university officials, the school of public health and a lot of people who helped us determine if we could help with water or filters.
"But it came down to: 'How can we help the kids?' One of our sources there led us to choose early childhood development. One of the community foundations is really battling to help the kids understand not only what happened but how they can prepare themselves for the future. So, we thought the books were a good idea. Books give them the best opportunity to develop and make the most of opportunities."
Moore said Wolverine head baseball coach Erik Bakich "jumped on board" along with his staff the instant the idea was suggested.
"We read to kids in the fall," said Bakich, "and we do a lot of stuff with elementary schools programs to interact with the community. So, this lined up with some things we've done for community engagement, and it worked out pretty good."
Three Wolverines -- outfielder Matt Ramsay and pitchers Michael Hendrickson and Cam Wysocki -- picked out books for the children at a local store.
Cam Wysocki, Matt Ramsay and SAAC Prez Michael Hendrickson are picking out books for our book drive tonight! #goblue pic.twitter.com/SddwQQlr5V
-- Michigan Baseball (@umichbaseball) May 17, 2016
Flint gave Michigan one of its greatest baseball players. Left-handed pitcher Jim Abbott, an Olympic gold medal winner and a first-round draft pick by the California Angels, hails from Flint Central High.
"Jim Abbott is on our wall at the gym at our club," said Winchester.
Gabby added, "I always asked, 'Who is that?' Now I know!"
It was pointed out to the Flint group that Abbott's No. 31 is one of six numbers the Wolverines have retired and is noted on the stadium wall in left field
Oakland University beat Michigan, 6-5 in 10 innings, but the young fans from Flint enjoyed the game and the experience they shared.
"I liked it because I got to see the baseball players and my first baseball game," said Gabby. "So, this is a really big deal for me. I'm so excited about it. I've always dreamed of coming to a baseball game. And I like the sound effects (on the P.A. system) like breaking glass (after foul balls hit into the parking lot)."
Donivin said, "I just like the stadium and everything. I like the view."
It wasn't his first baseball game -- he's seen the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park -- but it was his first Michigan baseball game.
Getting the books will complete something of an academic-athletic doubleheader for the kids.
What kind of books were they hoping for?
"James Patterson," said Donivin, referring to the fiction novelist. "He's funny, and it feels like he's talking to me in his books."
Gabby added, "I like chapter books that are really weird and really scary."
Moore said he loved seeing the smiling faces of the children.
"This is why we do community engagement," said Moore. "And we're kids at heart, too. We love a good book. We want kids to enjoy a baseball game, and then a couple of our players will go with us to deliver the books next week."
Gabby added, "I want to thank Michigan so much for delivering those books to our Boys & Girls Club because we can really use them. We're just so happy."
