Volunteering at the Holiday Tree Festival

Members of our team will spend time during the next week volunteering at the Holiday Tree Festival.  The event is a fundraiser for Akron Children's Hospital.

The  first group went to the John S. Knight Center in Akron Wednesday night to help get ready for the event.  Luke Burch, Jon Wilson, Alex Miklos, T.J. Sutton and Sawyer Polen helped move boxes, set up display signs and did other tasks to help the other volunteers and program organizers.

This year marks the 32nd Holiday Tree Festival which takes place November 23-December 1 at the John S. Knight Center in downtown Akron.  Admission to the festival is free.  Hours are Monday-Wednesday 11am to 8pm, Thanksgiving 2pm to 6pm, Friday and Saturday 10am to 9pm and Sunday 11am to 6pm.

Every year more than 140 decorated trees, 130,000 lights and countless other holiday creations are displayed at the Center to benefit Akron Children's Hospital.  Proceeds support patient care programs, education and research.

The Holiday Tree Festival has been the volunteers of Akron Children's Hospital's gift to the Akron community for more than 30 years and has raised more than $4 million for the hospital since beginning in 1982.  Last year, the Holiday Tree Festival raised $250,000.  Members of the Kent State baseball team have been volunteering at the event for many years.

For more information on the event, visit Akron Children's Hospital Website.

Players check out a intricate train set on display.

The Grinch, Max and Cindy Lou.

Miklos and Sutton check out a custom tree made of worn Lebron James shoes.

Miklos helps set up display signs.

Wilson and Miklos pose by a Pittsburgh Steelers tree.

Newcomer Q&A: Andy Ravel

Andy Ravel
#35, RHP

 What was the recruiting process like in getting you to commit to Kent State?

Coach Birkbeck came down and saw me in Georgia, I think that was the first time he saw me, back when Stricklin was here.  He was the one that kind of put the foot forward and got me on the road to Kent, as did my high school pitching coach because he went here and he played for Coach Birkbeck.  He knows what a great coach he is and what he can do with pitchers.

Every other school that I looked at didn’t have everything.  They had some things, but not the full package, and Kent State did and that’s why I chose it.

You were drafted in the 21^st round this past June.  What was that experience like?

I was currently graduating from high school.  My dad had my phone and I guess everyone knew before I did.  I was walking out of graduation and everyone kept saying congratulations.  I thought they were just congratulating me on graduating, but they didn’t say anything to anyone else behind me or in front of me, so I didn’t really know what was going on.  Then they told me 21^st round and I still didn’t know what they were talking about.  Finally when I got out to see my parents they told me that I was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 21^st round and I put two-and-two together.

Everyone was congratulating me and it was unbelievable.  Then I called the Diamondbacks and talked to them and they said they drafted me and that we would negotiate the money and stuff a little bit later, and to embrace the moment and congratulations.  That was probably the best thing that ever happened to me in baseball so far was getting drafted.

What swayed your decision to come to college and to not go pro?

I talked to a lot of people.  I talked to guys who went straight out of high school and guys who went to school.  I think for me it was just that my body wasn’t ready.  I think that mentally I was ready, but not physically.  I was only 150lbs, not able to go through a professional season, which is more intensive than a college season.  Everyone said the college experience is something you need and it will allow you to get bigger, better and stronger.  That, along with Coach Birkbeck, I knew he would get me ready to go better than the 21^st round.

How did you think fall ball went?

Fall ball was great.  I think I did okay.  I think I could have done better but I showed well.  The coaches said I showed well and I might have a fight for a starting position on the weekend, which is pretty cool as a freshman.  That just gives me more incentive to work harder.  Overall as a team I think we looked really good.  The swings got better as we progressed through the fall.  Seeing the pitchers live every day helped them get their timing down and shake the rust off from the summer and get back in to things.  I think we’re a real factor in Omaha this year.

What is the biggest thing you think you bring to this team?

I would say intensity.  I’ll give it my all every time.  I’m never going to take a day off.  I’m just trying to make the guys around me better along with myself.  If I can help in anyway, if that’s in the bullpen, starting, cheering, anything, I’ll be glad to do it.

What’s the one area you want to work on the most this winter?

Putting weight on.  I need to get bigger.  I already put 11lbs on so hopefully I’ll keep that up.  Just getting stronger so my body doesn’t hurt as easily and I can withstand a little bit more.  Strengthening my arm and just working with Coach Birkbeck on pitching in general.

Newcomer Q&A: Garrett Barrera

Garrett Barrera
#19, LHP

 How did you end up on the team?

I tried out my freshman year and I didn’t make it, so I tried out again this year and ended up making it.  I wasn’t really recruited, I just really loved the game so I tried out. 

What was it like being at the open tryout?

There were a lot of kids there.  There were a few kids there that looked to have some talent.  It was nerve-racking because it was something I did want and I did work for it all summer.  I played summer ball with one of the other players, Shane Biles, down in Zanesville and, like I said, I worked hard for it and I really wanted to be there.  It was nerve-racking at first, but hearing them call me back and getting all the paperwork filled out was relieving. 

Now that you’ve made it, what’s it like being apart of Kent State baseball after watching the success they’ve had?

As a kid I’ve always watched Kent State baseball.  My grandma lives right down the road and I grew up there a lot as a kid because my mom was a caregiver for my grandparents, so I was always up here watching the games.  From high school it was only 20 minutes away, and it’s always been a big thing about where I’m from because it’s a really good program and is known nationally.

You have a unique throwing motion.  How did that come to be?

It’s been a thing I’ve messed with a lot because it’s hard for me to stay consistent.  At the tryouts it was one way and then during the fall it was another way.  I need to hopefully find something consistent through Coach Birkbeck helping me and teaching me new things.  It’s been changing to find something I’m comfortable with; I can’t really find anything.  So far during individuals I’ve toned it down and found something a little bit easier for me.  It’s not as much stress and energy use on my body so it makes me more consistent in the zone.

How do you think fall ball went?

I think it went well.  For me personally, I have a lot to improve on.  I think the team did really well.  It was my first time ever having fall ball with the team and I think it went really well.  I think we need to hopefully find a vocal leader and I hope some upperclassmen, and even underclassmen, step up as a leader because I think we have a lot of leaders, just not any individual leaders that have stepped up yet.  I think it will be a good season if we put the work in this winter and believe that we can strive to be in Omaha, I think that’s where we’ll be.

If there were one thing you bring to the team, what would you say that is?

In high school I was always taught to be like a bulldog on the mound.  That’s just how my personality is in everything I do.  I will always be behind and supporting my teammates.  I’ll always be a rock; I’ll always be there for anything, on and off the field, but hopefully on the field if they rely on me on the mound.  I’ll give everything I have.

What is the one thing you want to improve on this winter?

Mainly my control on the mound and being able to relax and find my zone a lot more without putting as much stress on throwing and being more controlled up there.

Newcomer Q&A: Conner Simonetti

Conner Simonetti
#34, 1B

How did you end up at Kent State?

I was recruited by Coach Stricklin.  He saw me play in a tournament this summer in Syracuse and approached my parents and said that he was interested in talking to me about coming here.  From there, the recruiting process started.  I came on my unofficial visit in August and then my official visit in October, and then I followed up two weeks later and I committed.  That’s how I ended up here.

You were drafted out of high school this past June.  What was that experience like?

Interesting.  You’re really sitting by the phone for three straight days waiting to get called.  But it’s a fun experience.  I’m glad I had the opportunity to go through it so hopefully if it happens again I’ll know more about it than I did to start off.

Did you have any thoughts of going pro or were you set on coming to college?

I was considering it, depending on the amount and the round.  But after the second day passed, I was pretty much set on coming to college.  I was just hoping that it happened so I could have the experience of it more than anything.

What did you take out of fall ball this year?

Our team has a chance to be really good.  I knew they lost a few really good pitchers and players last year due to the draft, but we have a chance to be really good, and the coaches are great.  I couldn’t have asked for anything more, and I think everyone kind of feels the same way, which is good.  I think we all kind of understand that if we keep pushing then we’re going to eventually get to where we want to be and hopefully make it back to Omaha.  So I think that’s our goal right now, and I think we all feel that’s a possible goal.

What do you think is the biggest thing you bring to this team?

I think as a freshman, my attitude.  It’s hard to be super vocal as a freshman because we have a lot of guys who are vocal and are respected because they’ve been here and they’ve done it before.  I think just having a really good attitude every day and bringing 100%, because if you do that and everyone else sees you doing that, then it pushes them, whether they’re a senior or a freshman, to give their 100% because they want to be just as good as you.

Former All-American and MAC Player of the Year first baseman George Roberts is here this fall interning with the team.  What’s that like having him help out?

It’s great; I love George.  He knows so much and I try to pick his brain as much as possible.  Cody too. Cody’s a pretty knowledgeable guy, so I try to pick both their brains.  They’re really good with pointing stuff out and helping me in more of a coaching manner and instructing me to do something because I’m doing it the wrong way, or something like that.  It’s nice that he’s back and that we all get along because he’s a good coach.

What is the one area you want to work on the most on this winter?

Other than being a better all-around baseball player, probably my approach at the plate.  It’s a totally different game than high school.  In high school you can get away with having bad swings because the pitching isn’t as good, but here the pitching is very good and your flaws are pointed out very quickly if you can’t hit the ball.  So, probably just my approach at the plate and trying to stay within myself.  I know a lot of people think as a freshman you have to do a lot to prove yourself.  So, just take it day-by-day and try not to push too much because then you don’t see results.