About 90 sixth-graders from Rio Vista Middle School took control of the stands at the Frank Sancet Field yesterday.

Students ran to University of Arizona men's baseball players asking them to read a few pages from their books or to get their autographs.

Approximately 20 baseball players walked around the stands, talking to children and pausing to read a few pages.

The event was part of February's Love of Reading month.

Frankie Acosta, assistant coach, read "Annie is Still Here," a book is about a young girl who is haunted by German soldiers living in her town, to sixth-grader Jessica Dryden.

"I enjoy doing this. I've met a lot of interesting youngsters," Acosta said.

Sixth-graders swarmed around Omar Moraga, second baseman and undecided freshman, asking him to autograph their books.

"I think it's great. You really need it. It is really important that you read," Moraga said.

Nicole Tilicki and two other sixth-grade teachers brought their students to the UA to have ball players read to them.

Tilicki, a former bat girl for the baseball team, organized the reading with head coach Gerald Kindall and assistant coach Jerry Stitt. Tilicki said the activity helps bridge the gap between the community and the university.

J.J. Northam, director for baseball operations, said a lot of children have shown interest in the program since it first started in 1992. Approximately 20 students participated then.

"It's a great opportunity for them to read with somebody they look up to," said Sharon Meyer, elementary education senior and Tilicki's student teacher.

Sixth-grader Celia Cross said, "It will teach kids to learn how to read better and to stay in school instead of dropping out."