La Crosse, Wis. - Members of the Viterbo University Baseball team recently traveled to Sparta High School with the goal of helping get the baseball field in playing condition.

Head Coach Chad Miller and his team completed numerous activities and left with the satisfaction of knowing the field will be game ready when the spring season rolls around. The coaches and players mowed and raked the infield grass, renovated the game and bullpen pitching mounds, prepared the home plate area, painted the dugouts, edged the baselines, and removed weeds from the warning track in addition to other maintenance activities. The end result is a baseball field ready for a game.

Current Viterbo assistant coach Eric Cummings, who recently began his first year teaching at Sparta High School, recognized the need for some field care and presented the idea to the team. Since Viterbo team members participate in field maintenance on a daily basis and have some knowledge and experience, the volunteer project was a perfect fit. The project provided team members a chance to participate in some community outreach and strengthen team chemistry.

"Working together for a worthy cause can build team chemistry and provides team members the chance to enrich their lives by helping others," commented Coach Miller. "We hope this type of experience inspires them to reach out and look for other opportunities in which they can make an impact through volunteer work. These young men represented Viterbo well during the project and made a lasting impact. Sparta High School baseball players will have a chance to focus on baseball related activities when their spring season starts rather than spending a large amount of time preparing their field."