For two of the last three years, members of the Brandywine baseball team have been going to Caley Coleman’s class at Merritt Elementary to help encourage students to read more.

The players started visiting the class two years ago, but due to conflicts with time last year, they were unable to get to Merritt.

The program is back in swing this year and has been very successful according to Coleman.

“Coach (David) Sidenbender and I teamed up a couple years ago as a way to help encourage reading and build excitement towards reading for my boys in the classroom,” she said. “After looking at district data, a trend was noticed that the boys were performing slightly lower than the girls in reading. I tried to think of a way to help the boys get more excited and engaged in their reading and with spring coming I thought, ‘why not baseball?’

“Coach Sindenbender was on board and the team began to come weekly. Each year, the boys have been thrilled to have the team come. They talk about their ‘baseball buddy’ and practice reading their books all week in anticipation of them coming.”

It was not exactly an easy sell.

“The guys were apprehensive at first,” Sidenbender said. “But they really enjoy it and they get community service credit, which helps their high school careers too.”

Coleman said the players have been great to work with.

“The high school players have been excellent with the boys in my class,” she said. “The players ask them about their week, encourage them in their reading and behavior and have really become mentors to the boys. We begin by reading for 20 minutes and then they get to go outside and play catch. Each year, I notice a difference in the excitement level of the boys towards reading when the team starts coming.

“They want to do well for their ‘baseball buddy’ so every spare second we have they want to get their books out and practice reading. In return for the baseball player taking time out of their busy schedules, we plan a day to go watch them play in one of their games.”

The Brandywine players have gotten as much out of the experience as the children in Coleman’s class.

“I think it’s a really cool thing that we are able to read with the kids and help them out,” Ashton Kwieran said. “I’m sure it’s making reading more enjoyable for them and it gives them something to look forward to.”

Hunter Janowiak agrees.

“Reading to them is a great experience,” he said. “The students read their books that they have picked out and after we go outside and play catch with them. The guys in the class are the ones that have a tougher time reading and they just love when we come in. All of their faces light up because they look up to us. I have such a great time working with them.”

Zack Grishaber notices the change in the students when they arrive at Merritt too.

“We have the boys in the class read to us,” he said. “Then, we go outside and play catch with them. When we first walk into the room, you can see their faces light up with huge smiles on their faces. They love being able to play catch with us. It is an awesome experience for them and us too. It is a lot of fun being able to do this with them and also to be able to help them out with reading. I enjoy doing this with the kids and love working with them.”

Coleman said that the entire experience has been gratifying.

“The opportunity to work with coach Sidenbender and his baseball team has exceeded all expectations,” she said. “Not only are the boys improving their reading, but have also gained a mentor to look up to. Also, a big thank you goes out to the community members who have donated gloves for those students that didn’t have one.”

The Bobcats are back on the field Thursday as they host Cassopolis in a BCS Athletic Conference doubleheader, which is also being promoted as an American Heart Association fundraising game.

Brandywine will be selling t-shirts at the game with the proceeds going to the American Heart Association.

The first game is scheduled to begin at 4:15 p.m.