• Stories by Subject
  • Stories by State
  • COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS

PawSox team with area schools for education program

May 12, 2012

Pawtucket-Red-SoxIt is 10 o’clock on a rainy Thursday morning and McCoy Stadium already is buzzing.

The Pawtucket Red Sox game against Rochester is still two hours away, yet there are kids everywhere. The parking lots are filling with school buses.

McCoy Stadium draws plenty of kids for every Pawtucket Red Sox game. But why two hours before game time on a weekday morning? Augusto “Cookie” Rojas Jr., the PawSox general sales manager, smiles when someone asks.

“It’s part of our Baseball in Education program,” Rojas explains. “It’s something we started four years ago and had 50 kids involved. Today we have 1,400.”

The program is the latest in what seems to be the team’s never-ending involvement with the community. Rojas is the man behind it. He organized it based on experiences he had with his own kids.

“I have kids in school. They go on field trips sometimes,” Rojas said. “I thought, ‘There has to be a way for us to offer something here’ … I started tinkering around and talking to some of my friends in baseball and I came up with this idea.

“I ran it past Mike (Tamburro, the team president) and Lou (Schwechheimer, the vice president general manager) and they said go with it, run with it.”

Rojas was told that any field trips students take must be educational. So he went to one of the state’s training grounds for teachers, Rhode Island College.

“We have great partners at Rhode Island College. They’ve helped us develop a curriculum that meets all the educational guidelines. They made it a project for their seniors, their student-teachers,” Rojas related.

The educational aspect is why all the students were there so early.

On the first-base side, junior high students from Middletown were being timed throwing baseballs. They were then given a sheet in which they could calculate how fast they were throwing the ball.

On the third-base side, a large group of students from Winman Junior High in Warwick was listening to a presentation on the longest game in baseball history and doing it directly in front of the display that honors the 33-inning game against Rochester (which also was the opponent Thursday) in 1981.

With the help of the teachers and professors at RIC, components were drawn up not only in math and history, but also with social studies and science. Once students were seated, the video board in right field showed videos on the science of baseball, explaining how a ball flies and proper fielding techniques.

The program took a major leap forward this year because of another agreement Rojas worked out. In the first three years he ran the program, a number of schools expressed interest in participating, but had to decline because of costs.

“It is very expensive to get buses,” Rojas noted. “The First Student bus company has become a sponsor this year. They really cut their prices for us.”

The event Thursday was the second of two such days this year. Students from North Kingstown, Warwick, Middletown, Cranston, Providence (the first time a Providence school has participated) and Franklin, Mass., were among those taking part.

The educational aspect did not stop once the game began. Rojas loves keeping score at games. Minute Man Press has joined the program. Students are given booklets that contain educational material, including trivia questions. And there is a section that teaches students how to keep a scorebook.

“It’s been a labor of love. It’s a great joy for me,” Rojas said.

He received a special bonus late in the game.

“I have a daughter (Madison) who is an eighth-grader. Her school was the first one here today. She sent me a text saying, ‘It was awesome, dad. I have fun.’ ”

Carolyn Higgins, who was with fellow Winman teacher Norm Bouthillier, said there was only one problem.

“It’s really nice what they do,” she said. “The only part that could be better is the weather. We came last year, too, and the weather was bad then, too.”

This article by Paul Kenyon originally appeared on the official website of the Providence Journal.  Click here to view the original story.

Tagged as : Boston Red Sox, Education Days (Baseball in Education), International League, Pawtucket Red Sox, Rhode Island { }

Welcome to clubphilanthropy.com!

Minor League Baseball clubs have been actively involved in their communities for many years. For the first time, their activities and contributions will be chronicled on this site.

Clubs don’t publicize all of their activity, so these stories represent a mere fraction of the contributions MiLB clubs make to their communities every year.

Categories

  • ►Aberdeen Ironbirds (3)
  • ►Akron RubberDucks (32)
  • ►Albuquerque Isotopes (24)
  • ►Altoona Curve (22)
  • ►Amarillo Sod Poodles (18)
  • ►Arkansas Travelers (2)
  • ►Asheville Tourists (5)
  • ►Auburn Doubledays (4)
  • ►Augusta GreenJackets (29)
  • ►Batavia Muckdogs (15)
  • ►Beloit SkyCarp (19)
  • ►Biloxi Shuckers (23)
  • ►Binghamtom Rumble Ponies (4)
  • ►Birmingham Barons (16)
  • ►Bluefield Blue Jays (5)
  • ►Bluefield Ridge Runners (3)
  • ►Boise Hawks (9)
  • ►Bowie Baysox (28)
  • ►Bowling Green Hot Rods (13)
  • ►Bradenton Marauders (22)
  • ►Bristol Pirates (4)
  • ►Bristol State Liners (1)
  • ►Brooklyn Cyclones (22)
  • ►Buffalo Bisons (46)
  • ►Burlington Bees (6)
  • ►Burlington Royals (3)
  • ►Burlington Sock Puppets (2)
  • ►Carolina Mudcats (21)
  • ►Cedar Rapids Kernels (39)
  • ►Charleston Dirty Birds (2)
  • ►Charleston RiverDogs (100)
  • ►Charlotte Knights (30)
  • ►Charlotte Stone Crabs (6)
  • ►Chattanooga Lookouts (3)
  • ►Clearwater Threshers (43)
  • ►Clinton LumberKings (5)
  • ►Colorado Springs Sky Sox (20)
  • ►Columbia Fireflies (48)
  • ►Columbus Clippers (9)
  • ►Connecticut Tigers (14)
  • ►Corpus Christi Hooks (36)
  • ►Danville Braves (16)
  • ►Danville Otterbots (2)
  • ►Dayton Dragons (161)
  • ►Daytona Tortugas (21)
  • ►Delmarva Shorebirds (61)
  • ►Down East Wood Ducks (3)
  • ►Dunedin Blue Jays (15)
  • ►Durham Bulls (19)
  • ►El Paso Chihuahuas (23)
  • ►Elizabethton River Riders (1)
  • ►Elizabethton Twins (5)
  • ►Erie SeaWolves (12)
  • ►Eugene Emeralds (10)
  • ►Evansville Otters (1)
  • ►Everett AquaSox (15)
  • ►Fayetteville Woodpeckers (22)
  • ►Florida Fire Frogs (3)
  • ►Fort Myers Miracle (25)
  • ►Fort Wayne TinCaps (58)
  • ►Frederick Keys (19)
  • ►Fredericksburg Nationals (28)
  • ►Fresno Grizzlies (17)
  • ►Frisco RoughRiders (31)
  • ►Grand Junction Rockies (2)
  • ►Great Falls Voyagers (2)
  • ►Great Lakes Loons (28)
  • ►Greeneville Flyboys (1)
  • ►Greeneville Reds (1)
  • ►Greensboro Grasshoppers (5)
  • ►Greenville Drive (146)
  • ►Gwinnett Stripers (53)
  • ►Hagerstown Suns (3)
  • ►Harrisburg Senators (16)
  • ►Hartford Yard Goats (12)
  • ►Hickory Crawdads (26)
  • ►Hillsboro Hops (13)
  • ►Hudson Valley Renegades (16)
  • ►Idaho Falls Chukars (6)
  • ►Indianapolis Indians (35)
  • ►Inland Empire 66ers (13)
  • ►Iowa Cubs (7)
  • ►Jackson Generals (9)
  • ►Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (47)
  • ►Jersey Shore BlueClaws (152)
  • ►Johnson City Cardinals (5)
  • ►Johnson City Doughboys (2)
  • ►Jupiter Hammerheads (2)
  • ►Kane County Cougars (41)
  • ►Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (20)
  • ►Kingsport Axmen (1)
  • ►Kingsport Mets (2)
  • ►Lake County Captains (11)
  • ►Lake Elsinore Storm (5)
  • ►Lakeland Flying Tigers (12)
  • ►Lancaster JetHawks (7)
  • ►Lansing Lugnuts (3)
  • ►Las Vegas Aviators (9)
  • ►Lehigh Valley IronPigs (43)
  • ►Lexington Legends (69)
  • ►Louisville Bats (29)
  • ►Lowell Spinners (15)
  • ►Lynchburg Hillcats (17)
  • ►Mahoning Valley Scrappers (42)
  • ►Memphis Redbirds (8)
  • ►Midland RockHounds (5)
  • ►MiLB (37)
  • ►Mississippi Braves (34)
  • ►Missoula Paddleheads (19)
  • ►Mobile BayBears (6)
  • ►Modesto Nuts (10)
  • ►Montgomery Biscuits (2)
  • ►Myrtle Beach Pelicans (40)
  • ►Nashville Sounds (33)
  • ►New Hampshire Fisher Cats (33)
  • ►New Orleans Baby Cakes (5)
  • ►New York Boulders (5)
  • ►Norfolk Tides (20)
  • ►Northwest Arkansas Naturals (49)
  • ►Norwich Sea Unicorns (2)
  • ►Oklahoma City Dodgers (82)
  • ►Omaha Storm Chasers (53)
  • ►Orem Owlz (3)
  • ►Ottawa Titans (1)
  • ►Palm Beach Cardinals (4)
  • ▼Pawtucket Red Sox (67)
    • PawSox conclude 2020 with $10,000 donation to The Tomorrow Fund
    • Pawtucket Red Sox and PawSox Foundation to hold first-ever Fall Golf Classic
    • Fans Can Post Messages to McCoy's Videoboard to Raise Funds for COVID-19 Relief
    • New PawSox T-Shirts to Benefit COVID-19 Relief Effort
    • WooSox Foundation Pledges $10,000 to "Worcester Together"
    • "O' Say Can You Sing?" is Back This March
    • PawSox Foundation Announces 2018 PawSox Scholars
    • Veterans Home Run: A 5K Walk 'n Run Race Results & FAQ
    • PawSox Commemorate Veterans Day Holiday with Dinner for Veterans
    • PawSox Send Youngsters from Pawtucket Boys and Girls Club to the World Series for 29th Consecutive Season
    • PawSox Become "Boys of Bowling" for Tomorrow Fund
    • PawSox Foundation to Support "Empire Gives Back" Night on May the Fourth
    • Go Bowling with the PawSox on July 26
    • Providence Personal Injury Attorney, Rob Levine & Associates Partners with MiLB, PawSox, for Third Year, in Rob Levine Kid's Corner Program
    • PawSox Announce Fundraiser with Emerson College to Benefit The Tomorrow Fund
    • PawSox Foundation to Present "A Veterans Home Run: A 5k Walk 'N Run" on Saturday Morning, May 19
    • PawSox Infielder Mike Miller Refurbishes Field in Hawaii with "More Than A Game"
    • Pawsox Spread Cheer at VA Medical Center and Tomorrow Fund Clinic for Annual Holiday Caravan
    • PawSox Present 3rd Annual Veterans Day Steak Dinner
    • PawSox Foundation to Unveil Second Class of PawSox Scholars this Friday Afternoon at McCoy Stadium
    • PawSox Welcome Families and Children for Second Annual Trick or Treat at McCoy Stadium on Halloween
    • Pawsox to Host Thanksgiving Food Basket Drive with First Lady of Pawtucket
    • PawSox Begin 2nd Year of Pioneering Partnership with "Mentor Rhode Island" at Pawtucket's Agnes E. Little Elementary School
    • PawSox and Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza Team Up with Family Service RI on "Walk to School Day"
    • PawSox Foundation Presents Tomorrow Fund with Donation of $21,156
    • PawSox and Jordan's Furniture Donate Record Amount of Equipment to the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket
    • PawSox Break Ground with RIBCTC in City of Woonsocket
    • PawSox and Rhode Island Blood Center to Host Second Annual 9/11 Blood Drive at McCoy Stadium
    • Rhode Island Building & Construction Trades Council and the Pawtucket Red Sox announce newly formed charitable partnership, Building Baseball
    • Mayor James A. Diossa teams up with PawSox for "PLAY BALL SUMMER" Initiative
    • PawSox to Host 33-Inning Charity Baseball Game Featuring The Pawtucket Slaterettes August 19
    • Red Sox Foundation and Pawsox Foundation Partner with Rhode Island Little League to Support all 48 Leagues in the State
    • PawSox to Refurbish Fairlawn Little League's Deluca Field at Nathanael Greene Elementary
    • PawSox Introduce First Four "Academic All-Stars"
    • PawSox Wives Food Drive - Tuesday, June 20
    • Bryant University's Project Playhouse
    • PawSox Launch "Academic All-Stars Program"
    • Go Bowling with the PawSox on June 7th
    • PawSox Foundation to Present "A Veterans Home Run: 5k Walk 'N Run" on May 20
    • PawSox Introduce "Paws for a Cause" Community Initiative
    • PawSox Deliver Roses and Spread Cheer to Local Seniors
    • PawSox Create New Pawtucket Mentoring Program with Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership
    • PawSox to Celebrate Life of Jackie Robinson with High School Student-Athletes from Pawtucket
    • What Does $100,000 Really Mean?
    • PawSox Again Cross the $100,000 Mark in Community Contributions in 2016
    • PawSox Charitable Foundation Adopts Family of 6
    • Goff Middleschoolers Enjoy 2nd Annual PawSox Holiday Luncheon
    • PawSox Complete Commemoration of Veterans Day Today at Warwick Mall
    • PawSox to Commemorate Veterans Day Holiday with Dinner for Veterans Tonight and Check Presentation Tomorrow
    • New PawSox Scholars Program to Provide College Scholarships to Area Middle Schoolers
    • PawSox Sending Two Children to The World Series
    • PawSox Welcome Families and Children to Trick or Treat at McCoy Stadium on Halloween
    • PawSox Win 2016 Community Involvement Award from Providence Business News
    • PawSox Fans Donate Record 71 Pints in Inaugural 9/11 Blood Drive
    • PawSox to Host "Night Nation Run" 5k Music Festival Saturday Evening, September 24, to Support Stand Up to Cancer
    • PawSox win Moss Community Service Award
    • Jeffrey Osborne Celebrity All-Star Softball Classic - Sunday, August 10 at McCoy Stadium
    • Toys for Tots Collection Drive Underway at McCoy
    • PawSox to honor Negro League Athletes on July 30
    • PawSox Wives Food Drive on Tuesday, July 30
    • PawSox Help Raise Awareness of "Invisible Wounds of War"
    • Novo Nordisk presents Changing Diabetes Night
    • BVCHC hosts Childhood Obesity Awareness Clinic at McCoy
    • PawSox Wives Strike Out Hunger Food Drive, July 16
    • PawSox team with area schools for education program
    • PawSox Honored by R.I. Department of Health
    • PawSox Peanut Free Days at McCoy Stadium
  • ►Pensacola Blue Wahoos (63)
  • ►Peoria Chiefs (12)
  • ►Portland Sea Dogs (52)
  • ►Princeton Rays (8)
  • ►Princeton Whistlepigs (1)
  • ►Pulaski River Turtles (1)
  • ►Pulaski Yankees (18)
  • ►Quad Cities River Bandits (24)
  • ►Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (9)
  • ►Reading Fightin Phils (76)
  • ►Reno Aces (45)
  • ►Richmond Flying Squirrels (40)
  • ►Rochester Red Wings (28)
  • ►Rocket City Trash Pandas (11)
  • ►Rocky Mountain Vibes (2)
  • ►Rome Braves (27)
  • ►Round Rock Express (38)
  • ►Sacramento River Cats (25)
  • ►Salem Red Sox (14)
  • ►Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (8)
  • ►Salt Lake Bees (38)
  • ►San Antonio Missions (18)
  • ►San Jose Giants (39)
  • ►Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (60)
  • ►Somerset Patriots (22)
  • ►South Bend Cubs (65)
  • ►Spokane Indians (30)
  • ►Springfield Cardinals (42)
  • ►St. Lucie Mets (19)
  • ►St. Paul Saints (8)
  • ►State College Spikes (27)
  • ►Staten Island Yankees (16)
  • ►Stockton Ports (19)
  • ►Sugar Land Space Cowboys (6)
  • ►Syracuse Mets (16)
  • ►Tacoma Rainiers (6)
  • ►Tampa Tarpons (35)
  • ►Tennessee Smokies (25)
  • ►Toledo Mud Hens (47)
  • ►Trenton Thunder (28)
  • ►Tri-City Dust Devils (2)
  • ►Tri-City ValleyCats (31)
  • ►Tulsa Drillers (28)
  • ►Vancouver Canadians (28)
  • ►Vermont Lake Monsters (22)
  • ►Visalia Rawhide (7)
  • ►West Michigan Whitecaps (8)
  • ►West Virginia Black Bears (1)
  • ►West Virginia Power (11)
  • ►Wichita Wind Surge (12)
  • ►Williamsport Crosscutters (54)
  • ►Wilmington Blue Rocks (31)
  • ►Winston-Salem Dash (32)
  • ►Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (84)
  • ►Worcester Red Sox (48)