Jaguar baseball’s Blood Drive Series promotes doing good

By Shelbie Summerlin | Sports writer  

Augusta University’s baseball team had its annual Blood Drive Series to raise awareness in the community about donating blood this past month.

While playing for something more rather than just going through the motions of a regular intra-squad game, the players were also putting out a message of giving back to the community.

AU Coach Chris Howell stated the meaning of the Blood Drive Series for his players.

“I think it’s important for these guys to give back and do whatever they can to help others,” Howell said.

While spreading awareness, the Jaguar baseball team is also getting into the competitive spirit of the series.

“I think it gives them a little more stake in the game,” said AU Assistant Coach John Friday. “They’re playing for something. It’s good for the guys to come together and treat it more like a real game and really get into it.”

Howell said the series helps make fall practice a little more than just conditioning.

“In the fall we’re always working for coaches to find something and put on the line,” said Howell. “It just gives something to put on the table. It’s a lot of fun. We’re all about making it a competitive environment.”

Although the winning team didn’t exactly get a trophy, they also got the chance to choose if they wanted to donate blood alongside the players that took the loss.

“That’s the cool part of this,” said Howell. “Guys understand it, so they’re willing to donate.”

The Blood Drive Series has become something the team gets excited about each fall.

“It’s a tradition every year,” said senior infielder Jordan Wilkie. “The losing team donates blood. It’s all about something bigger than yourself.”

Junior outfielder Harrison Aulds also looks forward to the Blood Drive Series every year.

“It brings the team closer together I would say as well as helping the community, so it’s just really fun all the way around,” Aulds said.

A few more Jaguar baseball players commented on the competitiveness, as well as the importance of the Blood Drive Series.

“With the Blood Series, it gives you something more to play for than a regular intra-squad,” senior catcher Kyle LaRoche said,. “It’s a lot more competitive, a lot more fun. It’s also good because you can give back to the community.”

Aulds of the winning team is volunteering to donate alongside his teammates.

“Even though we won, I still think a bunch of people will donate to give back and help people in need,” he said.

For these young men, it feels good to be a part of the big picture of helping others.

“I feel like if we go and give blood, we can be good role models in the community and set a good example,” said senior pitcher Cody Shieder, even though he was on the losing team,

Senior pitcher Britt Kelly said: “It’s great to give back to something bigger than us.”

Contact Shelby Summerville at ssummerville@augusta.edu.

Jordan Wilkie gets in practice at first base for the Augusta University baseball team. At the top of the page, Harrison Aulds gets in some batting practice before a recent Blood Drive Series exhibition game. (photos by Shelbie Summerlin)