Baseball team inspires kids to keep reading

Leigh-Anne Brown Arizona Daily Wildcat UA junior Tyler Haddix (left) and David Bruegger, 12, read a book together at Frank Sancet Field yesterday. The field trip was specially scheduled for the sixth graders from Rio Vista Elementary School by their teacher, former UA bat girl Niki Tilicki.

They got the Arizona baseball team to sit through an entire afternoon without hitting a home run.

The children from Rio Vista Elementary School came to meet the Wildcats yesterday during a field trip organized by their teacher and former UA bat girl, Niki Tilicki. Her husband was a team manager.

"The players are a real inspiration to my kids," said Tilicki, who has been bringing her students to the ballpark every year since 1992.

The children got a chance to sit down with the players and read books they brought along.

"It's fun to read to baseball players and to have them read to us," Christine Wahlke, 11, said. "They're real cool and real goofy."

The players also enjoyed the chance to spend some time reaching out to the community.

"It's a lot of fun to see the kids come out here and be in the ballpark," pitcher Ryan Stoneberg said. "It's nice to give something back."

Tilicki said it is a great opportunity for the sixth-graders.

"This is so awesome for the kids," she said. "This is something they'll never forget."

Infielder Mike Meyer said the experience "will hopefully inspire the kids.

"Hopefully they'll go out and get involved in sports," he said.

Brandon Uphaus, 12, said the players inspire him both on the field and off.

"They're just good," he said. "It's fun to meet new friends."

Bryan Harris, 12, said the UA's players do have one drawback.

"They correct you too much (when you're reading)," he said with a smile, before adding, "They teach us to stay in school and to do well."

While signing a dozen autographs, senior second baseman Erik Mattern said the afternoon was a good break for the Wildcats, who are playing host for four games over the next five days.

"It gets you away from baseball for a little while," he said.

UA head coach Jerry Stitt said the players enjoyed reading to the group. He added that he hopes the children "come away with an appreciation for student athletes, but not only for the game but for life itself."