Sept. 13, 2011
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Editor’s Note: The following first appeared in the University of Iowa’s Hawk Talk Daily, an e-newsletter that offers a daily look at the Iowa Hawkeyes, delivered free each morning to thousands of fans of the Hawkeyes worldwide.
IOWA CITY, Iowa — It was a big weekend for Iowa Athletics Labor Day weekend. Not only were there a number of sporting events that kicked off the fall season, but the Hawkeye baseball team held its sixth annual golf outing at Blue Top Ridge in Riverside.
“Riverside wanted to help the baseball program and help us raise money,” said head coach Jack Dahm. “They offered us the golf course down there. We had great feedback from the people who played.”
The outing is a fundraiser for the Hawkeye baseball program, which gives fans a chance to talk with coaches, alumni and players. It also allows alumni an opportunity to come back to Iowa City to see teammates and support the program.
It was the perfect weekend for alumni to return because it coincided with the Iowa Varsity Club Hall of Fame induction of former UI head baseball coach Duane Banks. Dahm said both events helped boast numbers for the golf outing.
“Coach Banks did so much for the University of Iowa and the baseball program,” said Dahm. “A lot of our former players came back to support coach Banks. This was his fifth Hall of Fame induction and he said that this was the most important one… this is one he really wanted to be in.”
Among the 25 alumni playing in the event was former Hawkeye Tom Moreland, who was on the roster in 2006 and 2007.
“Seeing other former players is always a positive, but I think the most exciting part, the thing we like the most, was that there were players from the 70s, 80s, 90s and our era participating in the event,” said Moreland. “There were also current players out there, so we had four different eras of baseball players in one outing.”
One of the current Hawkeyes who participated in the event was senior pitcher Jarred Hippen.
“We are very fortunate to have great guys in our program,” said Dahm. “Being able to have the outing in the afternoon allowed some of our current players to come down and meet and greet people.
“We had four holes where we had players on the tee box mingling with people on the course. Our guys really appreciate the support that we get, so it was a great opportunity to say thank you to the community that supports them.”
Despite the extremely warm temperatures, it was a very positive event that helped generate funds for the program.
“Everyone understood that they were out there supporting Iowa baseball,” said Dahm. “It was a fun event that helped us raised some money for the program, but more importantly, people are feeling very excited about the future of Iowa baseball. The support we continue to get each year continues to grow.”
Dahm said that the money raised helps with facility upgrades, travel costs and other needs for the program.
The baseball team will play a couple games this fall before its season officially begins in February.