Babson Hockey, Softball Team Up To Raise Over $1,300 For Charity
BABSON PARK, Mass. -- The Babson College men's ice hockey and softball teams recently met in a "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition softball matchup at Babson's alumni field, where the two squads combined to raise over $1,300 for charity.
All proceeds for the event were donated to the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden in Harvard, Massachusetts, where Kelly Herlihy, wife of Babson hockey alumus John Herlihy '90, has been heavily involved since her breast cancer diagnosis back in February. In Kelly's words, "The Healing Garden is so powerful, peaceful, and hopeful to the mind and body. If you have to be here, it's a wonderful place to be and heal."
The Herlihy family has an incredibly strong personal connection to Babson, with four siblings attending the College - John ‘90, Brendan '91, Mark '93, and Timmy '96. Three of the Herlihy family members played hockey for the Beavers, while Mark's wife Geri (Biagi '93) also attended Babson.
As a classmate, teammate, and linemate of John Herlihy, Babson head hockey coach Jamie Rice '90 teamed up with softball coach Dave Canan to organize the charity matchup, which drew an enormous amount of interest on campus. Wearing special Babson Hockey "Playing For Kelly" tee-shirts, the hockey squad upset the softball team, 5-3, in extra innings. Senior Pat McLaughlin pitched all eight innings, including five hitless frames to start the contest, to earn the win, while junior starter Danielle Liska struck out nine in five innings for the softball team. In total, the event raised more than $1,300 for the Healing Garden.
"I am proud of this undertaking by these two programs on behalf of The Virginia Thurston Healing Garden. The commitment to excellence for our student-athletes, coaching staff and athletic department extends well beyond the playing fields. This unique event, and the strong ties to our alumni and their families, reinforces the mission of Babson College and our entire department. This is one of many initiatives that Babson student-athletes have undertaken this year. They volunteer their time not because they have to, but because they have a genuine desire to help others."
To learn more about the Healing Garden, please visit their official web site at www.healinggarden.net.
