February Teams of the Month Baseball and Softball The February Team of the Month honor is shared by the Baseball and Softball teams after their hot starts to the 2009 season. The Baseball team jumped out to a 10-4 record in February, including a big series victory over the sixth ranked Florida State Seminoles and key wins over Stetson, Bethune-Cookman, and South Florida. The softball team, while battling weather cancellations and a few close, extra inning losses, also was able to post a 4-6 record in the month of February, picking up wins against Oklahoma State, Bryant, Illinois- Chicago, and Nicholls State. Both teams' successes, however, has not made them lose sight of the influence that they have on the community, as both teams are full of active volunteers ready and willing to contribute their time.

The Women's Softball team at BC has been all over the community this year, as they have been on team trips to the Franciscan Hospital, Hear Program trips to local schools, and even donated hair to Locks of Love, but their Team of the Month nomination comes as a result of their most recent series of visits to local establishments on their road trips. For their first two road trips of the season, the Softball team has made it a point to go out of their way and make their mark on the local community. For their first trip down to Shreveport, Louisiana, the Lady Eagles made a stop during some free time to an After-School program where they helped the students with homework, played basketball, and hung out with the kids. The following weekend in Tennessee, the team made another volunteer stop, this time at the Best Buddies Program, a center dedicated to the lives of enhancing mentally challenged individuals over the age of 18. The girls taught the Buddies there to play softball, and really felt the love from everyone there.

Fifth year senior and SAAC board member Angela Pandolfo knows the importance of giving back and really appreciates the influence that she and her team have on these trips. "In years past, we may have taken for granted the opportunity that we have been given to play here, but making these visits helps us to realize that we have so much to give, and that the giving is gratifying to us because we are so appreciated. Every place we visit, we are looked up to, and for as much as it means to them, it means that much more to us." Angela describes their community service push as a team effort, and one that starts from the top, as she went on to say, "Our coaches have made volunteering a priority this year, and they set the example for us to follow. We all really like to do it, though, because we feel like we are contributing and making a difference in others lives, and that's special to us." The softball team will be home for the next few weekends, but their activity in the community won't stop as they already have team activities planned for the next three weekends.

The members of the Boston College baseball team have also been an active part of the community this year, seeing an increased emphasis from the leadership positions of the team on giving back. Led by co-captains Harry Darling and JB MacDonald, the Eagles took part in a team visit to Food For Families, a HEAR Program at Jackson Mann, a team clean up of Shea Field and the surrounding areas, and other visits to Franciscan and Children's Hospital. The team also has thirteen players that participate in the Pen Pal Program. In addition to these service events, the squad was able to rack up Baldwin Points by way of the adopt-a-team program. Baseball's adopted team (Field Hockey) was supported at two games by the 35 man roster, much to the excitement of the field hockey players.

Commenting on how the team has grown, JB MacDonald said, "We have a great group of guys who really work well together, and this was shown by our active involvement in the community service we have done. The guys on the team have really bought into the team concept, and are less focused on themselves. Giving back to the community plays an important role in becoming more of a team." Co-Captain Harry Darling added to MacDonald's comments by saying, "Community service is a vital part of being a Student-athlete. We have all been given an unbelievable gift to play the game that we love, so for us to give back a little bit of our time to those who are less fortunate is very important to us, and strengthens our bond even more."

For more information on Baldwin Points, Click on the "Baldwin Points" tab on the SAAC Website.

Previous Teams of the Month