WKU Baseball batting out breast cancer with charity event
Hilltopper Baseball’s Ty Crittenberger (22) takes a cut at the ball from the Louisville Cardinal’s pitcher during their match up with the University of Louisville Cardinals on March 29th at Nick Denes Field.
October 7, 2022
WKU fans will be aiming for the Nick Denes Field fences tonight, not to score runs but to tally up donations to fight breast cancer.
WKU Baseball has invited the Bowling Green community to its first-ever “Bat Out Breast Cancer” event tonight, Oct. 7 from 7:30-9 p.m. at the Hilltoppers’ home field.
Participants will have the chance to come on to the field and take their swings, with the team charging five dollars for five hits with an eight-pitch limit. All the money raised will go to the American Cancer Society through Graves Gilbert Clinic Oncology.
According to Cal Higgins, a sophomore lefty for the Hilltoppers, the idea came from the program’s leader of student development, Colin Stoker, who participated in a similar event at Notre Dame.
“He did this at Notre Dame last year, that’s where he was before this, and they raised like $3,000,” Higgins said.
Higgins said the team has a personal connection to Breast Cancer that has driven them to hold the event.
“Our head coach, his wife, two years ago, was diagnosed with breast cancer and she fought it and won,” Higgins said. “We want to help other people fight it that are maybe a little less fortunate, or help with research.”
The team has secured Big Red for the event and it has been approved by Red Wave so students can earn points.
According to Higgins, the team is setting up a portable fence 200 feet out in the outfield so that fans aren’t trying to hit the ball over the actual fence.
We want to help other people fight it that are maybe a little less fortunate, or help with research.
— Cal Higgins
“If they hit it over the real fence, then we’re definitely going to look into recruiting them,” Higgins said.
Higgins said injured team members will be in the stands acting as “rowdies” and the rest of the roster will be volunteering to run the event.
“We’re really trying to like give back to the community and give back to something that is a very difficult thing to fight,” Higgins said. “[…] I’m excited to raise some money for a really, really, really good cause.”
News reporter Izzy Lanuza can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @izzylanuza.
