Frisco RoughRiders pitcher Faulkner provides memorable experiences for local students through Keeper of The Game

FRISCO, Texas – The Keeper of The Game Foundation hosts “Out to The Ballgame” days throughout the season at Dr Pepper Ballpark. The event, with the help of the Diamond Dreams Foundation, provides area high schools the opportunity to bring their Special Education students to a Frisco RoughRiders baseball game free of charge.

During their “Out to The Ballgame” field trip, students receive an event T-shirt and sometimes even get the opportunity to meet players or coaches – but that part is not guaranteed. RoughRiders pitcher Andrew Faulkner stepped up and made sure it was, along with much more.

Starting with Centennial High School’s outing on May 20 and following with Wakeland High School on May 27, Faulkner made his way into the stands before the game and visited with everyone in the group. Taking his time, Faulkner posed for pictures and signed an autograph for each and every student.

“I was all about it,” Faulkner said. “It was fun meeting the students and everyone involved. They were all so nice. Giving back like this is important. A lot of people don’t have the privilege of doing what we do, so it’s nice to stop and show our appreciation for them and what they do.”

It was an experience the Frisco ISD students – more than 60 combined between both groups – said they would never forget.

“He was a really good guy,” CHS sophomore Franco Perez said. “He was friendly and fun. I have never gotten the chance to meet a professional baseball player in person. It was amazing!”

Added WHS sophomore and Best Buddy Officer Ashley Linton: “He was really friendly. He was willing to take pictures with everyone and sign all the T-shirts and baseballs we had. Most of all, he was in a positive mood to hang out with us.”

WHS Special Education teacher Sharla Atkins was inspired by Faulkner.

“Meeting Andrew Faulkner was inspirational,” Atkins said. “He was calm, polite and very cooperative. His interaction with the students was so genuinely organic. That doesn’t happen that often – especially in a first meeting – which is why meeting him gave me a little more hope about acceptance in the world.”

Keeper of The Game founder James Vilade, also an assistant coach for the RoughRiders and scout for the Texas Rangers, was not at all surprised to learn of how passionate Faulkner was in working with the Special Education students. That is why Vilade asked him to become a part of “Out to The Ballgame” and an ambassador for Keeper of The Game.

“Andrew’s dedication to the community matches his dedication to the game of baseball,” Vilade said. “It is great that we can consider Andrew a difference maker on and off the field.”

Faulkner has a 4-3 record in a team-high 11 starts this season for the RoughRiders, the Rangers’ Double-A affiliate. The 6-3, 200-pound left-hander owns 27 wins and a career 3.48 ERA in the minor leagues, including stops with the Arizona League Rangers (Rookie), Hickory Crawdads (Class A) and Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High-A). He was promoted to Frisco in August 2014.

The Rangers selected Faulkner out of Aiken (S.C.) High School in the 14th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

“The Texas Rangers do such a great job in the community at all levels,” Vilade added. “Here in Frisco we are trying to carry out our organization’s very clear mission of making a difference in the lives of others through the game we all love.”

Faulkner looks forward to having more involvement with Keeper of The Game.

“I want to do everything I can to help this foundation grow,” he said. “I come from a really small town and you don’t see opportunities like this a lot. If Keeper of The Game keeps getting bigger, it means more people are being helped.”

Keeper of The Game’s mission is to provide athletes with disabilities and special needs unique baseball experiences that foster the growth of those individuals and their love of baseball. The foundation promotes programs that allow these athletes to play, watch and experience baseball at a very personal level. This is all done with a focus on advancing servant leadership.

To learn more about Keeper of The Game, visit www.KeeperofTheGame.org, and follow the foundation on Facebook, Twitter (@BaseballKeepers) and Instagram (keeperofthegame). To learn more about the “Out to The Ballgame” program, click here.

-Story by Greg Weghorst