The Willow Glen Resident

Bedecked in baseball hats, WG kids cheer on Giants

By Christine M. Lias

As a second-grader threw out the first pitch, Willow Glen Elementary School students filled the stands at Municipal Stadium last Friday night to watch the San Jose Giants butt heads with the Modesto A's.

The night went well, according to Principal Lois Allen, and most likely will be repeated next year. "It was a good turnout," she said. "I heard it was one of the higher attendance nights for a Giants game."

Students sold tickets for $3 each to family and friends as a fundraiser for the school's Parent Teacher Association. The fundraiser dates back at least four years, PTA member, mother and school tutor Sherry Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said the PTA has good relations with the minor-league team. The week prior to the game, Giants players stopped by the school to sign autographs for students at Willow Glen.

"Students who sold tickets also got to wear baseball hats. That was a big deal, since students aren't supposed to wear hats at school normally," Rodriguez said.

As an added bonus, the student who sold the most tickets got to throw out the first pitch. This year, Alyssa Carlsen from Arleen Runels' second-grade class, who sold 94 tickets, got the honor.

"She was so nervous to have such a grownup responsibility. Oh, it was just precious," Allen said.

Becca Evans, student council president, gave a speech about the school's upcoming centennial anniversary, which was also "done well," Allen said.

Runels and Janice Allen's two classes got to sing the national anthem.

The night was shared with St. John Vianney School from East San Jose, which helped produce the "great turnout," Rodriguez said.

Unfortunately, the Giants lost 2-1 to the Valley Division's first-place A's. San Jose sits in third place, behind the A's and Arizona High Deserts, with a 14-11 win-loss record in the California League. Schallenberger Elementary School is also planning a San Jose Giants night, for Friday, May 15.

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