Though they may be busy student-athletes, the Niagara University baseball team still finds way to continue the program's tradition of giving back to the community taking part in a pair of events earlier this fall.
 
For the third straight year, the team participated in the Light the Night Walk on Sept. 26 at Delaware Park in Buffalo, N.Y. The walk, organized by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, helps raise money and awareness to fight these terrible diseases.
 
"Walking in the 'Light the Night Walk' is a wonderful opportunity for our team," head coach Rob McCoy said. "It's such a great cause and it allows us to help raise money and awareness. As well, it helps teach our players that servant leadership is a priority in our program."
 
For some teams, participating in the one event may be enough. However, it's not enough for Coach McCoy and his Purple Eagles.
 
On Sept. 7 and Sept. 28, the team went to work with the Miracle League of Grand Island and Western New York for the second consecutive year.
 
The Miracle League allows kids with disabilities to play America's favorite pass-time just like their peers. They play on a typical baseball field, dress in uniforms, make plays and round the bases just like their heroes they see on TV.
 
"I personally love getting our players involved with the Miracle League," McCoy said. "It's amazing for them to get to work with kids with special needs who get so much joy out of just playing the game of baseball. It puts our lives and baseball in real perspective. The mutual benefits are priceless."
 
To learn more about the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and to donate to the Niagara Baseball's fundraising team, you can go to http://pages.lightthenight.org/wcny/Buffalo14/NiagaraUniversityBaseball.
 
For more information about the Western New York Miracle League, visit http://miracleleaguewny.org/.