Photo by: MSU Baseball Social Squad
MSU Baseball And Softball Host Beautiful Lives Project Field of Dreams Event Thursday
9/19/2024 7:23:00 PM | Baseball, Softball
Spartans welcome Bryce Weiler’s nonprofit organization for third-consecutive year.
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Gallery: (9-19-2024) 2024 Beautiful Lives Project event
Click HERE to watch WLNS feature on the event
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State's baseball and softball teams partnered up to host the Beautiful Lives Project Field of Dreams event with co-founder Bryce Weiler for the third-straight year on Thursday afternoon at McLane Stadium at Jeff Ishbia Field.
The Beautiful Lives Project provides people with disabilities the opportunity to actively participate in activities and events that may not have been available to them previously due to physical or facility limitations.Â
Close to 100 people participated in the event, which MSU baseball and softball hosted for the third-consecutive year in a row. Student-athletes from the Spartan baseball and softball teams went through different drills and activities with the students, ranging from playing catch to running the bases, fielding, pitching and hitting.
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Michigan State was the first college baseball and softball teams to host the Beautiful Lives Project Field of Dreams event three years, as Weiler's group now works with college baseball, softball, basketball, football and volleyball teams around the country, as well as minor league baseball teams. Weiler, who is blind, and co-founder of the Beautiful Lives Project and its National Advocacy Officer. He is also the disability consultant for the Baltimore Orioles.
"It's a chance for our kids and our softball program to give back a little bit and have a chance to influence some lives of young people," MSU baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "These young kids walk out of here with a big smile on their face and that's the goal. I think it's important to realize the platform that we have and the abilities our kids have been given, and again, to give back to some of the youth in the area."
Despite a large group of the participants needing to depart early to return to school, after all the on-field activities were completed, everyone took a group photo, student-athletes from Spartan baseball and softball teams took individual photos with the kids and signed autographs.
"I hope they learn a ton and I think they will. I think you gain a ton of perspective when you do different events and different service opportunities, and I hope that they had the ability to do that today and, again, just share softball and share the game we love," MSU softball head coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley said. "It's fun to watch them just laugh and have a good time chasing the kids around; you can see the genuine joy on the kids faces and that can't help but affect you, so hopefully they had a great time too."
Weiler was excited to come back to MSU for what is becoming an annual visit, and is hopeful for the lessons that the Spartans learn from the event.
"Today was our third-annual Field of Dreams event here with Michigan State baseball and softball teams, learning baseball and softball skills, and most importantly creating friendships and memories with the players and coaching staffs," Weiler said. "I hope the baseball and softball players at Michigan State realize that they have such a great platform as a Big Ten athlete and they can use that platform to support causes that are important to them, or use their platform to bring positive change to college athletics and show that college sports are a place where they have success on the field or court, but most importantly, to also use their opportunities to grow and give back to others."
Weiler's goal was accomplished and hit home with the student-athletes from both teams.
"Today was as much us learning from them as they learned from us. They teach us about communicating, working hard and to be open to trying new things," MSU softball junior Hannah Hawley said. "Today opens your eyes a lot, it's super important to take a step back and really see the bigger picture in a lot of things, and today does that for a lot of us. It puts a lot of things in perspective for everyone. It's a blessing to be out here doing what we do and being able to see all these kids and what it means to them."
Afterwards, Weiler spoke to just the student-athletes, telling his story and past, and the story left a strong impression with Hawley, her teammates and baseball counterparts.
"I think just the sacrifices he made," Hawley said about her biggest takeaway from Weiler's talk. "He didn't take it as an obstacle, he was just like 'I'm going to take this and do something awesome with it,' and I think it's just great what he's doing and teaching everyone and what they're learning from it."
One of the players learning from the day's event from baseball sophomore Ryan McKay, who had a memorable and fun learning experience.
"It was awesome to show these kids some baseball, it also just shows how blessed we are, but just being able to help them and give them happiness is a blessing for us to experience," McKay said. "I just wanted to see them smile. I know everything they're going through is a lot, but every single one of them has a smile on their face and to be able to run around with them and see them laugh and smile, and to hopefully give them a fun time, to learn from them shows how lucky we are to be playing Division I baseball and to be able to share that with them is amazing!"
While Michigan State was the first collegiate baseball and softball programs in the country to have an Beautiful Lives Project event, the Spartans are excited to see it spread.
For more information on the Beautiful Lives Project, visit www.beautifullives.org.
Â
Click HERE to watch WLNS feature on the event
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State's baseball and softball teams partnered up to host the Beautiful Lives Project Field of Dreams event with co-founder Bryce Weiler for the third-straight year on Thursday afternoon at McLane Stadium at Jeff Ishbia Field.
The Beautiful Lives Project provides people with disabilities the opportunity to actively participate in activities and events that may not have been available to them previously due to physical or facility limitations.Â
Close to 100 people participated in the event, which MSU baseball and softball hosted for the third-consecutive year in a row. Student-athletes from the Spartan baseball and softball teams went through different drills and activities with the students, ranging from playing catch to running the bases, fielding, pitching and hitting.
Â
We had a great time teaming up with @MSU_Softball to host @BryceWeiler and the Beautiful Lives Project Field of Dreams today!!
— Michigan State Baseball (@MSUBaseball) September 19, 2024
Tune in to @WLNS at 6 pm for more on today's event!!#GoGreen | #SpartansWill pic.twitter.com/TmRkOYUstu
Michigan State was the first college baseball and softball teams to host the Beautiful Lives Project Field of Dreams event three years, as Weiler's group now works with college baseball, softball, basketball, football and volleyball teams around the country, as well as minor league baseball teams. Weiler, who is blind, and co-founder of the Beautiful Lives Project and its National Advocacy Officer. He is also the disability consultant for the Baltimore Orioles.
"It's a chance for our kids and our softball program to give back a little bit and have a chance to influence some lives of young people," MSU baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr. said. "These young kids walk out of here with a big smile on their face and that's the goal. I think it's important to realize the platform that we have and the abilities our kids have been given, and again, to give back to some of the youth in the area."
Despite a large group of the participants needing to depart early to return to school, after all the on-field activities were completed, everyone took a group photo, student-athletes from Spartan baseball and softball teams took individual photos with the kids and signed autographs.
"I hope they learn a ton and I think they will. I think you gain a ton of perspective when you do different events and different service opportunities, and I hope that they had the ability to do that today and, again, just share softball and share the game we love," MSU softball head coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley said. "It's fun to watch them just laugh and have a good time chasing the kids around; you can see the genuine joy on the kids faces and that can't help but affect you, so hopefully they had a great time too."
Weiler was excited to come back to MSU for what is becoming an annual visit, and is hopeful for the lessons that the Spartans learn from the event.
"Today was our third-annual Field of Dreams event here with Michigan State baseball and softball teams, learning baseball and softball skills, and most importantly creating friendships and memories with the players and coaching staffs," Weiler said. "I hope the baseball and softball players at Michigan State realize that they have such a great platform as a Big Ten athlete and they can use that platform to support causes that are important to them, or use their platform to bring positive change to college athletics and show that college sports are a place where they have success on the field or court, but most importantly, to also use their opportunities to grow and give back to others."
Weiler's goal was accomplished and hit home with the student-athletes from both teams.
"Today was as much us learning from them as they learned from us. They teach us about communicating, working hard and to be open to trying new things," MSU softball junior Hannah Hawley said. "Today opens your eyes a lot, it's super important to take a step back and really see the bigger picture in a lot of things, and today does that for a lot of us. It puts a lot of things in perspective for everyone. It's a blessing to be out here doing what we do and being able to see all these kids and what it means to them."
Afterwards, Weiler spoke to just the student-athletes, telling his story and past, and the story left a strong impression with Hawley, her teammates and baseball counterparts.
"I think just the sacrifices he made," Hawley said about her biggest takeaway from Weiler's talk. "He didn't take it as an obstacle, he was just like 'I'm going to take this and do something awesome with it,' and I think it's just great what he's doing and teaching everyone and what they're learning from it."
One of the players learning from the day's event from baseball sophomore Ryan McKay, who had a memorable and fun learning experience.
"It was awesome to show these kids some baseball, it also just shows how blessed we are, but just being able to help them and give them happiness is a blessing for us to experience," McKay said. "I just wanted to see them smile. I know everything they're going through is a lot, but every single one of them has a smile on their face and to be able to run around with them and see them laugh and smile, and to hopefully give them a fun time, to learn from them shows how lucky we are to be playing Division I baseball and to be able to share that with them is amazing!"
While Michigan State was the first collegiate baseball and softball programs in the country to have an Beautiful Lives Project event, the Spartans are excited to see it spread.
For more information on the Beautiful Lives Project, visit www.beautifullives.org.
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Players Mentioned
3B/C
/ Softball
INF
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