Dec. 17, 2010

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford baseball has partnered with the American Baseball Foundation's BASIC program. BASIC, which stands for Baseball and Academic Skills Instructional Course, serves as an enrichment program in established after-school programs.

The American Baseball Foundation engenders confidence among its young students. These young students learn to master goal achievement through sport and academic educational programs.

Each Thursday, several players from the baseball team visit Bessemer Classical School and take time to read and teach basic baseball skills to the first through fourth graders.

During the last 12 years, the ABF has worked diligently to promote, improve and expand its Baseball and Academic Skills Instructional Coarse (BASIC) designed to expose underserved children in the United States to baseball/softball skill, while also teaching them the joy of reading and the benefits of stronger education.

The fast paced program keeps the children's interest by offering an integrated curriculum that shows them that reading can be fun as it relates to something that they are interested in--sports.

The kids look forward to the players' visits: "I look forward to playing baseball every Thursday," said Grayson, a Bessemer Classical student. "It is awesome!"

Another Bessemer Classical student, Riya said, "They also take the time to read with us. We just finished the book Little Bill."

According to Jim Shaw, Executive Director of Bessemer Classical School, the Samford student-athletes serve as role models for the school's children. Shaw said, "Having the players here is enormously beneficial to the students at TBCS. In a community where 75 percent of children don't have a male in the home, the time these men spend each week helps fill an important need."

The children are not the only ones who benefit from this weekly program. Samford baseball players like senior infielder Stephen Ballard enjoy spending time with the kids.

"The BASIC program has been a wonderful experience," Ballard said. "I hope these kids had as much fun as we did. It truly was a blessing."

Junior outfielder Matt Frederick added, "The BASIC program is a great way for us to impact kids' lives in an education setting and during activity time."

Samford's softball team has also partnered with the ABF's BASIC program this semester at Glen Iris Elementary.

Both teams look to continue building their relationship with the children of the BASIC program next semester.