Bulls Spirit Reaches Bluffton Baseball

Bluffton baseball team was involved in serious bus accident on March 2
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo baseball team and Division of Athletics staff recently donated $635 to the Bluffton University baseball team for its “Living Memorial” fund. The fund was established in memory of several team members who died as a result of a horrific bus accident on March 2 outside of Atlanta. The team bus plunged off of an interstate ramp, killing four team members, the driver and his wife, and injuring several other athletes.

“Baseball teams at all levels throughout the country spend many hours every weekend traveling by bus to play games,” said UB head baseball coach Ron Torgalski. “To have such a tragedy like this strike really hits home for our team. As a baseball team and Athletics Department we wanted to do something concrete to show our support for the Bluffton University baseball team,” he added.

The Bluffton baseball team had been scheduled to play its first game of the season in Sarasota, Fla., against Eastern Mennonite University of Harrisonburg, Va., and it had eight more games scheduled in Fort Myers, Fla. The team managed to play in 24 games last season, ending the home portion of its season with an 11-3 victory over Defiance College.

“This tragedy could have happened to anyone in college athletics,” said Warde Manuel, UB Director of Athletics. “We take pride in helping fellow student-athletes and coaches – especially in moments such as this. I’m grateful to our baseball team and Athletics staff for going the extra mile in reaching out to Bluffton,” said Manuel.

05/24/2007