Kentucky State’s baseball team held its first-ever First Pitch Dinner this past January to help raise funds to repair and renovate the KSU baseball field. Last March 3rd, high winds storm swept through the area sending the Thorobreds bleachers onto the field damaging the field as unplayable.
When the storm ended, and the dust settled, the coaching staff realized they wouldn’t be able to play any home games to finish the season and it jeopardized future games.
Head baseball coach Rob Henry found a solution. With a strong baseball community, the Western Hills and Franklin County high schools stepped in to provide their facilities for the KSU Thorobreds’ home games this season. But that is not all.
The community coordinated with the baseball program. The Kentucky State’s baseball team held its first-ever First Pitch Dinner this past January 26 to help raise funds to repair and renovate the KSU baseball field.
The event drew a large crowd with some college baseball coaching VIPs involved. The University of Louisville coach Dan McDonnell and the University of Kentucky coach Nick Mingione were the keynote speakers.
The First Pitch dinner drew close to 200 guests for a reception, a meal, a silent auction, and guest speakers at the Carl M. Hill Student Center.
Plans continue to get the KSU field back to being playable with a renovated backstop, dugouts, bleachers rebuilt, so the Thorobreds would be able to play games at home.
When the evening came to an end, more than $10,000 was raised to help KSU repair and renovate its baseball field.
Robert Henry’s unwavering dedication to shaping the future success of the baseball program has been nothing short of remarkable. He epitomizes the Thorobred spirit and is one of HBCU baseball’s most impactful coaches.
The First Pitch Dinner was a great opportunity to bring the KSU alumni, the Kentucky State community, and supporters of the program together.