Dec. 22, 2012
For Immediate Release
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| Beauford Sanders, left, head coach of the Campbellsville University baseball team, gets his players in the Christmas spirit as they sing Christmas carols to residents of the Grand View Nursing & Rehabilitation Facility. The Tiger baseball team took a break from studying for finals and spent the afternoon Dec. 8 singing Christmas carols and visiting with residents. (Photo courtesy of Barbara Sanders) |
By Chris Megginson, director of sports information
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – It’s not often you get to see baseball players put on Santa hats and sing, but that is what the Campbellsville University Tigers did Dec. 8 at Grand View Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.
Sixteen Tiger baseball players gathered at the center to visit with those residing there and share Christmas cheer.
“I thought it was an awesome experience, and I plan on doing it again,” said freshman Shane Woodson of Farmington, N.M. “I enjoyed the look on the people’s faces the most, knowing that we brought joy and Christmas spirit to them. It is nice giving back to other people instead of just doing stuff for yourself.”
Players wore different Tiger uniforms and spent a good portion of the afternoon with their white-bearded head coach, Beauford Sanders, who donned a Santa cap and conducted his sand lot choir with a large plastic candy cane.
“It was a great experience sharing love and the spirit of Christmas,” Sanders said. “The guys enjoyed performing as much as the clients of the nursing home enjoyed being entertained.”
Many of the players who attended the gathering reside out of state and don’t have an opportunity to visit with family often. It’s that desire to fill the void of family that helped provide the reason for some of the players, including junior pitcher Tylar Schmunk of Parker, Colo., to give freely of their Saturday afternoon.
“Christmas is all about being with family and loved ones, and the some of the people living there don’t have much of that,” Schmunk said. “I wanted to go and sing for them to show that there is someone out there who cares.”