Northwestern University Athletics
NU Helps Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation Open Freedom Field
10/7/2015 12:57:00 PM | Baseball, General, 'Cats Give Back
by Amit Mallik, Northwestern Correspondent
Evanston, Ill. – Five members of the Northwestern baseball team traveled to Marquette Park in Chicago to help the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation open Freedom Field on Tuesday.
"Any time our guys have the opportunity to get out and get involved with youth baseball, I think it's very important," said first-year head coach Spencer Allen. "No matter how much success you have in all walks of life, we all have to give back in some way."
The Foundation partners with communities across the United States to build low-maintenance synthetic turf fields designed to give kids a recreational and educational experience, particularly in at-risk communities. Freedom Field is the 50th field built in five years, and the opening was a special occasion with Cal Ripken, Jr. in attendance along with representatives from the Chicago Cubs and Under Armour.
The five athletes - Joe Hoscheit, Grant Peikert, Reed Mason, Jake Stolley and Pete Hofman - from Northwestern helped pump the kids up to kick off the day's events by running with them through a banner and playing baseball with them.
"It was a chance for us to interact with the kids from various middle schools and elementary schools along with the Boys & Girls Clubs down there, and we were able to put on a clinic for them," said Peikert. "We did different baseball related drills, played kickball with them and different activities to break in the new field."
Hoscheit said that one of his early experiences that grew his love for baseball was playing with his older brothers. This event gave the NU players a chance to mimic that type of experience.
"The kids had a lot of fun. I think that was the main part of it," Hoscheit said. "it's nice to reciprocate it now that we're the older generation."
All of the Wildcat players had the chance to meet with Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr., an idol for most of them growing up. They spoke glowingly of the entire experience, as they were able to bond as a team, meet a baseball legend, and most importantly, help make on impact on kids' lives and the community.
"You can realize how lucky you are to have what we have at Northwestern," said Hofman. "Those kids weren't coming from much, and they were just so happy to have the opportunity play on a nice field. We come out to [Rocky and Berenice Miller Park] every day and play on this nice field, and we take it for granted."
Evanston, Ill. – Five members of the Northwestern baseball team traveled to Marquette Park in Chicago to help the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation open Freedom Field on Tuesday.
"Any time our guys have the opportunity to get out and get involved with youth baseball, I think it's very important," said first-year head coach Spencer Allen. "No matter how much success you have in all walks of life, we all have to give back in some way."
The Foundation partners with communities across the United States to build low-maintenance synthetic turf fields designed to give kids a recreational and educational experience, particularly in at-risk communities. Freedom Field is the 50th field built in five years, and the opening was a special occasion with Cal Ripken, Jr. in attendance along with representatives from the Chicago Cubs and Under Armour.
The five athletes - Joe Hoscheit, Grant Peikert, Reed Mason, Jake Stolley and Pete Hofman - from Northwestern helped pump the kids up to kick off the day's events by running with them through a banner and playing baseball with them.
"It was a chance for us to interact with the kids from various middle schools and elementary schools along with the Boys & Girls Clubs down there, and we were able to put on a clinic for them," said Peikert. "We did different baseball related drills, played kickball with them and different activities to break in the new field."
Hoscheit said that one of his early experiences that grew his love for baseball was playing with his older brothers. This event gave the NU players a chance to mimic that type of experience.
"The kids had a lot of fun. I think that was the main part of it," Hoscheit said. "it's nice to reciprocate it now that we're the older generation."
All of the Wildcat players had the chance to meet with Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr., an idol for most of them growing up. They spoke glowingly of the entire experience, as they were able to bond as a team, meet a baseball legend, and most importantly, help make on impact on kids' lives and the community.
"You can realize how lucky you are to have what we have at Northwestern," said Hofman. "Those kids weren't coming from much, and they were just so happy to have the opportunity play on a nice field. We come out to [Rocky and Berenice Miller Park] every day and play on this nice field, and we take it for granted."
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