Holy Cross Baseball & Cincinnati Reds Urban Baseball Academy ...

Holy Cross Baseball & Cincinnati Reds Urban Baseball Academy teaming up 1/30/13 Holy Cross Head Baseball Coach Pat Ryan has spent the winter looking for an indoor facility around Northern Kentucky for his players to work on their skills. Ryan was having no success until the Cincinnati Reds Community Fund and their Urban Baseball Academy stepped up to the plate. “Holy Cross received an invitation to an open house at the Urban Baseball Academy. When I saw the facilities and equipment, I knew it was exactly what we needed,” said Ryan. “When Baseball Urban Academy coordinator Bill Daggy invited us to use the facility, I jumped at the chance.” The Holy Cross baseball program works out once a week for an hour and a half and has full use of all equipment. Players ranging from the 6th grade through the 12th grade have been invited to the various workouts. “The staff is working with the present while nurturing the future,” commented Ryan. The Academy features two gyms, each with batting cages, all types of screens, batting tees and strength and conditioning equipment. The Urban Baseball Academy is more than just a place for a team to practice. It has trained instructors for individual or small group sessions. It operates the RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program designed to teach, coach and mentor inner city youth through the game of baseball. To complement its goal of baseball development, the Academy also takes aim at helping students achieve success in the classroom. It provides tutors and a computer lab to help students after school with their homework, to study for tests and be more prepared for the challenges of the school day. The Urban Baseball Academy is part of The Reds Community Fund Outreach Programs. Other programs include – Reds Rookie League, Youth Baseball Funding, Field Renovation and the Caldwell Bankers-West Shell “Match” Program. On Wednesday January 23, the Cincinnati Reds organization and Reds fans received great news from Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig when he announced the city would host the 2015 AllStar game at Great American Ballpark. Even greater news for the youth of Cincinnati was Major League Baseball’s announcement of a multimillion dollar grant to the Urban Baseball Academy. The Academy is in the process of building a new facility on the grounds of Roselawn Park. Holy Cross is very thankful to the Reds, the Community Fund and The Urban Baseball Academy.