Feb. 22, 2007
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Ten members of the 2007 Navy baseball team visited St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on Thursday in Memphis during their trip to Tennessee for the Service Academy Spring Classic this weekend.
Michael Garcia (Kailua, Hawai'i), B.J. Bickel (Benson, N.C.), Daniel Kovalcik (Westwood, Mass.), James Lee (Asheville, N.C.), Dominic Lopez (Quincy, Mich.), Mitch Harris (Mt. Holly, N.C.), Bill Maugeri (Edgewater, Md.), Jack Ferrick (Stafford, Va.), Joshua Martinez (Denver, Colo.) and Matt White (Yorba Linda, Calif.) came by the hospital and passed out foam baseballs, Navy wristbands, Navy baseball posters and teddy bears to the children. The Midshipmen were able to visit the transplant area, extended care facility and spoke with the children, medical and non-medical personnel and more than 50 families on Thursday morning.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is one of the world's premier centers for research and treatment of catastrophic diseases in children, primarily pediatric cancers. The mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is to find cures for children with catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.
Research efforts are directed at understanding the molecular, genetic and chemical bases of catastrophic diseases in children, identifying cures for such diseases and promoting their prevention. Research is focused specifically on cancers, acquired and inherited immunodeficiencies, infectious diseases and genetic disorders.
Navy, off to its best start in 18 years with a 6-1 record to open the 2007 campaign, will take on Air Force on Friday and Saturday at USA Stadium in Millington, before wrapping up the classic with Missouri on Sunday at Memphis' Nat Buring Stadium.
