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Dragons cheer on students

Marshall Gorby/Two Dayton Dragons players and mascot Heater visited a Rolling Hills Elementary School fourth grade class on Thursday, April 23.

Dayton Dragons pitcher Scott Gaffney signs a baseball for Miranda Taylor when the player visited her classroom at Rolling Hills Elementary School on Thursday, April 23.

Staff photo by Marshall Gorby Dayton Dragons pitcher Scott Gaffney signs a baseball for Miranda Taylor when the player visited her classroom at Rolling Hills Elementary School on Thursday, April 23.

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By Samantha Sommer, Staff Writer Updated 8:24 AM Friday, April 24, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Kelly Dobyns’ fourth grade students didn’t get taken out to the ball game, instead the crowd came to them.

Dayton Dragons pitchers Mace Thurman and Scott Gaffney, along with mascot Heater, visited the Rolling Hills Elementary School class on Thursday, April 23, as part of the Dragons MVP Program: A Tool for Teachers.

The program has been going on in Clark County for four years. Five students in Dobyns’ class as well as other students in the school also previously had been selected to be MVPs who win tickets to games and other prizes.

Students threw a ton of questions at the players, everything from their favorite foods to how many pets they have to what it feels like to strike out at bat.

“I’ve had a lot of experience with that,” Gaffney said. “It doesn’t feel too good but it feels good when you strike somebody out.”

All the students received Dragons hats, baseballs and pens that the pitchers autographed. Heater unfortunately couldn’t sign anything because his hands are too big.

Lee Hammond, one of the MVP students, brought an autograph album for the players to sign.

“Baseball’s my favorite sport,” he said.

Another MVP, Makenzie Roberts, was excited for the event.

“It’s awesome because they get to come and meet us,” she said.

The players enjoy the classroom visits.

“It’s great to give a little back,” Gaffney said. “Sometimes it makes a kid’s day.

The program builds support for the team in the community, said Brandy Abney, Dragons senior marketing manager.

The players also are good examples for students, she said.

“Maybe we reach that one child who hasn’t yet had someone in their life to influence them in a positive manner,” she said.

The program also is a good way to reward students for their hard work, Dobyns said.

And it’s fun.

“It’s a joy to see the excitement, the honor that they get,” she said. “Their hard work pays off.”