Jan. 21, 2010

Aquadro, Penguins Coaches Serve Community as Season Approaches

Youngstown -- As the 2010 baseball season approaches in five weeks, Youngstown State freshman pitcher Blake Aquadro and the YSU baseball coaches have been active in the community.

Aquadro, a freshman from Memphis, Tenn., volunteered at two "Hitting on the Cross" baseball camps over the winter break that taught baseball skills and life lessons with a religious center.

For the first camp, Aquadro volunteered to travel to Natchitoches, La. in fewer than one day's notice with his summer baseball coach, Joe Caruso, to serve as a camp instructor for youth aged 7-13. He led a pitching session where he shared some drills he learned at YSU, and he worked with Washington Nationals third base coach Pat Listach at a hitting station.

In the second camp, Aquadro helped raise $5,550 for Samaritan's Feet, a non-profit ministry that provides shoes to children in need. The camp was able to provide shoes to more than 300 elementary school students in inner-city Memphis with a new pair of shoes. Students at North Memphis High School also received new baseball cleats.

"I was excited to be a part of such a great ministry and great event, and I felt honored to be asked to help and represent YSU baseball," Aquadro said. "I shared my story about how God worked in me through baseball to get to where I am now. The camps were life changing, and I had a lot of fun."

YSU head coach Rich Pasquale praised Aquadro for his efforts.

"Blake is not only a tremendous pitcher for us here at YSU, but he is a tremendous person," Pasquale said. "He comes from an outstanding family, and it is a pleasure to have him be a Penguin for the next four years."

Pasquale and his coaching staff has been busy in the local community, continuing its ongoing relationship with the Rich Center for Autism on campus. The YSU coaches helped autistic children from the center hit baseballs off of tees and played catch with them at the batting cages in Beeghly Center.