Box Score GALLERY
Cincinnati, Ohio -- The Kentucky State University baseball team hosted the Trevecca Nazarene Trojans on Tuesday, April 15th, at the
Cincinnati Reds Urban Youth Academy where the two teams played the first ever collegiate baseball game at the Roselawn Sports Park.
The Thorobreds were invited to play in the game at the academy and participate in a pregame ceremony as part of the Cincinnati Reds and Major League Baseball's celebration of Jackie Robinson Day. The day is set aside to honor the legacy of the legendary Hall of Famer who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball 67 years ago.
Head Coach
Rob Henry and graduate student
Matt Freire were recognized during the on-field, pre-game ceremonies at Great American Ball Park before seniors
Mike Swayne and
Josh O'Reel threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
In the game between the Thorobreds and TNU earlier in the day, the Trojans prevailed 10-0. Trevecca Nazarene used six different pitchers on Tuesday but all were effective, holding KSU to just four hits as a team.
While the game didn't go the Thorobreds way, the significance of the day wasn't lost on Head Coach
Rob Henry.
"It's important for everyone to realize what Jackie Robinson did, not only for baseball, but American society as well," Henry said. "It's a great honor for Kentucky State to be invited to represent HBCU's and be a part of what the Red's Urban Youth Academy is trying to accomplish.
The new $7 million P&G Cincinnati MLB Urban Youth Academy is currently under construction but once opened to the public early in the fall of 2014 will continue to provide year-round baseball and softball instruction to boys and girls from ages eight to 18.
The project is currently in its first phase where the four fields are being upgraded and new concessions and restroom facilities have been added. A second phase will feature a 33,000-square-foot indoor training center that will house batting cages, pitching tunnels, and an indoor field with completion scheduled for spring 2015.
The Cincinnati Reds Urban Youth Academy had been at a temporary location since 2009 but a new permanent location is currently under construction.
