WooSox players visit Boys & Girls Club of Worcester to help grow the game of baseball

Reporting and writing produced for the Worcester Telegram and Gazette by Tommy Cassell. Read the original article here.

WORCESTER — Nijash was surprised to see WooSox players Narciso Crook, Ryan Fitzgerald and Christian Koss show up Saturday morning at the Boys & Girls Club.

But the 10-year-old baseball fan from Worcester wasn’t shocked he homered off Fitzgerald in a drill as part of Major League Baseball’s “Play Ball!” initiative, created to inspire youth to play baseball and grow the game.

“I was confident I was going to hit the ball,” Nijash said. “It was fun.”

The baseball clinic included agility, fielding and hitting instructions from WooSox players, a pizza lunch, giveaway baseball items, a DJ and visits from mascots Woofster and Tessie the Green Monster.

“It’s absolutely great that we’re able to bridge the community together,” said Tatyianna Zicherman, director of education for Worcester Boys & Girls Club, “so that they’re able to engage in such a great activity.”

Despite a doubleheader looming later in the day at Polar Park, the trio of WooSox players were happy to be a part of growing the game.

“To be able to give back to these kids is pretty cool,” Crook said.

Said Fitzgerald: “It’s always fun coming out here and helping these guys.”

“The fact that I get to spend some time with the kids and make some laughs and make some memories makes it all worth it,” Koss added.

Latest class of WooSox scholars announced at Polar Park

Right before Worcester’s opener of a twin bill with Rochester on Saturday, four Worcester Public Schools eighth graders were announced as the WooSox Scholars “Class of 2023.”

Each student will receive a college scholarship of $10,000 from the WooSox Foundation. The students receive the funds for tuition and books at the time of matriculation to the colleges of their choice.

Their induction brings the number of WooSox Scholars to 12 since the program began in 2021.

“Selecting our annual WooSox Scholars is among our most rewarding experiences,” said Worcester Red Sox president Dr. Charles Steinberg, who also is president of the foundation. “We learn so much about the neighborhoods, the schools and the living environments of our children, and they inspire us with their determination, courage and perseverance.

“Early adolescence is challenging for any child, and these students have not had a bounty of material advantages. We seek to show them that we care about them, that we believe in them and that their dreams of college are valid — and funded.”

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This year’s recipients, selected from more than 1,700 applicants, are Marrie Brenner and Diego Segura, both of Burncoat Middle School, Anayah Ortiz of Forest Grove Middle School and Jeremiah Mlay of University Park Campus School.

Members of the WooSox and WooSox Foundation staff gave the news in person to each child at their school last week.

“It’s an amazing feeling to make such an impact on their lives, and those of their families,” Steinberg said.

_— Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @tommycassell44. _