For some ASU students, Sunday morning is a time spent recuperating from three days of binge drinking and a day used to sleep in until 2 p.m.
But for ASU baseball players, Sunday morning is another opportunity to give back to the community.
More than 10 players spent last Sunday at the St. Vincent De Paul, located in southeast Phoenix volunteering their time and skills to help those less fortunate.
"It's always good to give back to the community," sophomore Andrew Romine said. "A lot of the time we're working for ourselves, so it's always good to get out and help somebody else."
The team arrived at St. Vincent De Paul around 7 a.m. and volunteered their time for more than three hours.
"Sundays usually are day to sleep in, but it's worth it, coming down here and helping out the less fortunate," freshman Matt Hall said.
The players helped with tasks revolving around the kitchen and clothes.
"First we did fried chicken, then we chopped some celery, then we took the chicken out, and then we did some pasta, now we're sorting clothes," junior Pat Bresnehan said.
All their work will benefit the homeless in and around the Phoenix area. Their time will also contribute to those displaced to Phoenix by Hurricane Katrina.
Although their time spent was mainly for the benefit of others, there were many positive things that the players and the team were able to take home.
"I think it brings all the guys together," Romine said. "We all have the same goals, even when we're not on the field."
For coach Pat Murphy, volunteering means giving back to the community. It is about building character while increasing team camaraderie.
"Everyone realizes they're on the same page character-wise," Murphy said. "We stand for this. Being a champion is about giving back."
"It (volunteering) is all part of their educational experience," Murphy said.
Reach the reporter at william.hayes@asu.edu.
