MANKATO-Minn. The Mankato MoonDogs Baseball Club, a member of the Northwoods League, along with Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union and ACES continue to reach out to the Mankato community with their educational program, MoonDogs Fit.
So far this summer, several Mankato MoonDogs players have visited Hoover Elementary, Kennedy Elementary, Eagle Lake Elementary, Rosa Parks Elementary, and Garfield Elementary to teach kids about how to live healthy through MoonDogs Fit. In their visits, kids learn about how to eat healthy to improve their lives, talking about nutrition. They also learn the benefits of being physically active in their daily lives.
MoonDogs Fit coordinator Sam Hjelm continues to be amazed at the effect the players have on kids in the community. “Seeing the kids light up when the players arrive is one of the coolest parts of the program. They are able to have fun and learn life lessons at the same time,” Hjelm said.
Coming up in future visits, the MoonDogs will talk to kids about how to be a team player and have good sportsmanship, not just when playing sports but in other aspects of life as well. The ACES program has been a one of its kind program that allows kids to create a bond between the MoonDogs players and the students through activities on-site, which are a huge benefit. The mission of the MoonDogs Fit program is to utilize MoonDogs players off the field to teach overall fitness as a positive impact to our youth. Through community involvement, MoonDogs Fit is there to motivate regular physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices.
The MoonDogs appearances to the ACES sites for MoonDogs Fit are made possible through the partnership with Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union. The month long session will conclude on July 30th. MVFCU will provide a t-shirt and a ticket to the MoonDogs July 31st game to each ACES kid as part of the Fit wrap-up event. On July 31st, the MoonDogs take on the Duluth Huskies at 7:05 p.m.
Single-game and discounted season ticket seats are available to all remaining Mankato home games, on sale at the MoonDogs office located at 1221 Caledonia Street in Mankato, as well as over the phone at 507-625-7047. To stay up to date, Like the MoonDogs on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter (@MoonDogsBall), or visit the website at www.mankatomoondogs.com.
The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.mankatomoondogs.com.
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