Led by head coach #Murphy Su'a#, a contingent of 13 Toros clad in Cardinal & Gold traveled to the elementary school, where they spent a couple hours reading to the students and answering questions about baseball and college life.

"It was even a greater experience for the guys than it was for the students," said Su'a, still beaming from the day.  "Our players came out of this experience with a better understanding of their role in the community, and being good role models for academics and athletics."

Reading many of Dr. Seuss' classics, Toros #Kevin Pillar#, #Derrek Duarte#, #Marcus Lefton#, #Jesus Padilla#, #Brian Sturgis#, #Andrew Baslow#, #Barret Ceverha#, #Andrew Klausmeier#, #Kody Kurowski#, #Abel Medina#, #Kyle Pond#, #David Fair# and #Kevin Logan# presented the kids of Woodworth Elementary with not only their time, but also by showing their commitment to the wonders of reading.

"Pillar had a heavy following, Kyle Pond, who was only supposed to spend a couple minutes in the classroom, was in there for about an hour, and David Fair was signing autographs for most of his session," Su'a chuckled.

Created 12 years ago as a one-day event to celebrate reading on Dr. Seuss' birthday (March 2), NEA's “Read Across America” is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on or around Dr. Seuss' birthday, which has grown into a nationwide initiative that promotes reading every day.  In May 1997, a reading task force at NEA formed the idea, and on March 2, 1998, the inaugural “Read Across America” day was born.

"Each one of those guys had a special following, and it was really a lot of fun for everybody," Su'a concluded.  "The teachers were tremendous, all the helpers were tremendous, and the administration at Woodworth was tremendous."