BEREA, Ohio - The Baldwin Wallace University baseball team is sending 27 student-athletes on a study abroad trip to the Dominican Republic where they will serve the community, visit historical and cultural sites, and compete in a series of games from Sunday, December 10 to Wednesday, December 20.

Fourteenth-year head coach Brian Harrison and BW associate professor Dr. Andrew Dohanos lead the baseball team as they fly into Santo Domingo on Sunday. Over the course of this trip, the team will have the opportunity to paint houses in Boca Chica, visit orphanages in Juan Dolio, and conduct baseball clinics in Jarabacoa.

Sophomore infielder Matt Terzola (Uniontown/Archbishop Hoban) comments, "One of the words we use a lot around the program is 'grateful.' We are so blessed to have the opportunities that we do, so it's important to us to give back when we get the chance, and this is a great one."

The Yellow Jackets will also get to tour Santo Domingo's original Spanish colonial neighborhood, hike to the Salto de Jimenoa Dos waterfall, and explore Saona Island.

For the playing portion of the trip, the Yellow Jackets will hold workouts and practices on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and at the Cleveland Guardians' Dominican training facility to prepare them for up to six games against teams comprised of players from the Dominican Army, the Dominican Navy, and even young players from Major League Baseball academies. The team will also get the chance to attend a Dominican Winter League game in San Pedro de Macorís featuring some of the biggest stars in the MLB today.

"This trip will allow the team to bond over our love of baseball," shares senior outfielder Joey Marousek (North Royalton). "Anytime a team gets to gain shared experiences together, whether it's within their sport or outside of their sport, it allows for great chemistry building which will help lead us to another successful season!"