On Friday, November 17th, the boys and girls at 186th Street
School had a great time interacting with the California State
University Dominguez Hills baseball team and Chad Qualls of the
Houston Astros. Coach Murphy Su'a, CSUDH head baseball coach,
brought 12 of his players to interact with the elementary children,
while he and Chad passed out books to every child in attendance. At
the beginning of the event, the captain of the baseball team called
the play in an academic huddle. He told the children to come to
school everyday ready to learn, respect their teachers, do their
homework, and go to college. Then the team shouted, "Hills," on
three, and gave the children a high five for excellence. Chad
joined in the quest to encourage the children to do their best. The
baseball players signed autographs, timed the children as they ran
the bases, read to the students, lead exercises, tossed footballs,
kicked soccer balls, played peace games, and appeared to have just
as much fun as the children. Students, parents, and teachers wore
their favorite jerseys and had a great time after school in the
spirit of celebrating literacy and fitness for life. One fifth
grader called his mom on his cell phone and said, "Mom, you will not
believe who I am standing next to." She asked, "Who?" He said,
"Chad Qualls, my favorite baseball player." Then he gave Chad the
phone so he could talk to his mom. It was hilarious.
