by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
Pitchers from the St. Cloud Rox baseball team visited Arlington Place Assisted Living on July 8 to play bingo with the residents. Rox players also passed out ice-cream cones afterward.
Housing manager Karen Hennessy used baseball-themed bingo cards for the event. Caller Eric Nyquist would call out “catch,” “throw,” “steal,” “dugout” and other baseball-related terms until residents got a “Bingo.”
Pitcher Kyle Fischer, a New Ulm native and St. Cloud State University player, attended the event.
“There are 16 pitchers and 14 position players on the roster,” Fischer said. “We play 70 games in 75 days.
Half of those games, 35, are played in St. Cloud and the other half are played on the road.
Rox public relations person Jake Brown said they visit several places a week during the summer. They visit libraries, assisted-living facilities, the Boys and Girls Club and other places.
“We feel as an organization it’s important to show our face in the community and to be involved in the community,” Brown said. “That’s how fans get to know us.”
Hennessy said Brown had contacted her several weeks ago to see if they could come and do something with the residents. She said bingo draws the most participants of any of their events.
Hennessy said the residents commented it was fun to do something different and it was a nice party.
The Rox is a summer collegiate baseball league that plays in the Northwoods League. Current standings are 18-23, 4-2 second half and home games are played at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud.
Some pitchers from the St. Cloud Rox baseball team visited Arlington Place assisted living on July 8 to play Bingo with the residents.
Pitcher Evan Wolf helps resident Lenora Hilsgen, 94, play Bingo.
Housing manager Karen Hennessy’s grandchildren and daughter participated in Bingo with the Rox players. Joey (left), Amy and Caleb Guzek are baseball fans of the Rox team.
Rox pitcher Kyle Fischer helps residents Emily Hlebain, 98, (left) and Flores Ottenhoff, 98, play Bingo.
Rox pitcher Lucas Long helps resident Bert Zimmer, 94, play Bingo.
Rox public relations person Jake Brown helps residents Carol Dolence, 77, and Luvern “Notchie” Kirscht, 86, play Bingo.
Rox pitcher Eric Nyquist calls out the Bingo baseball terms as resident Martha Kierzek, 90, listens. Housing manager Karen Hennessy is shown in the kitchen area preparing the ice cream cone supplies.
St. Cloud Rox baseball pitchers played Bingo and served ice cream cones to residents at Arlington Place assisted living in St. Joseph.
St. Cloud Rox baseball pitchers played Bingo and served ice cream cones to residents at Arlington Place assisted living in St. Joseph.