Reading, writing and baseball
With an unusual 10:30 a.m. game time, Education Day at QuikTrip Park brought the entire Grand Prairie ISD’s fourth grade to the ballpark to watch the AirHogs play the El Paso Diablos Tuesday morning.
David Burke, AirHogs' General Manager, said he met with school superintendent Dr. Susan Simpson with his proposal to “bring all the kids out for free, have a 10:30 morning game.” Before he could finish his proposal, Dr. Simpson agreed, Burke said.
“With the help of the GPISD, they bus the kids here. We give them free tickets to the game, compliments of Pepsi Cola,” Burke said. “They get to enjoy America’s pastime and they don’t have to go to school.”
He said the AirHogs plan for education days at the ballpark to be a permanent part of the team’s schedule.
“This is a good day for Grand Prairie, this is a good day for Grand Prairie ISD, and this is a great day for our kids who have worked hard all year and they deserve to be here and I’m glad to be a part of it,” Bret Jimerson, Deputy Superintendent said.
Before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch Jimerson admitted he was bit nervous because was told be sure and not bounce the ball in the dirt. So that is all he could think about, throwing the ball in the dirt with the fourth grade classes and the GPISD staff watching.
He made a perfect pitch to start the game, unfortunately the AirHogs lost 13-5.
The AirHogs and the Grand Prairie ISD will have another Education Day on May 28, when the fifth graders come to the ballpark.
