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Nov. 5, 2009

Click Here for more info on the Willow Springs Boys Ranch  Photo gallery from Nov. 5  Founder Todd Vinson talks about the day (work footage) 2010 Captains Senior Jeremy Erben | Bio Senior Ross Hubbard | Bio Sophomore Garrett Buechele | Bio

NORMAN, Okla. -- The University of Oklahoma baseball team made its annual trip to the Willow Spring Boys' Ranch in Chandler, Okla., on Nov. 5.

The Sooners have been coming to the ranch since 2005 and have created a tradition of naming the team's captains for the upcoming season at the event.  Seniors Jeremy Erben and Ross Hubbard and sophomore Garrett Buechele were voted as the 2010 captains by their teammates.

"The team is confident in the three individuals elected today," said OU Head Coach Sunny Golloway.  "We have a lot of leaders on this team and we are excited about getting started in the spring."

In addition to selecting the team captains, the Sooners' day was filled with interaction with the kids and various duties around the grounds that included weed eating, mulching, painting, mowing, hauling trash and clearing out trees.

The coaches and players ate dinner with the kids and the ranch's staff at Jacob's Ladder in the evening.

"This tradition is something we look forward to every year as it helps bring our team together," added Golloway. "As always, we are grateful to Todd Vinson and his staff for welcoming us back again and allowing us to spend the day with them."

Willow Springs Boys' Ranch is a long-term residential childcare facility that accepts applications from boys between the ages 7 to 12 years old. Boys are able to live on the ranch until they graduate from high school, obtain their G.E.D. or participate in an independent living program after graduation.

It is the program's goal to provide an environment where boys can become successful and develop into productive adults.

"In two hours, they got done about 80 hours of work (by our staff)," said Vinson.  "It's been a huge blessing having the baseball team out here today.  They're a lot of similarities in what we do at Willow Springs Boys Ranch and what University of Oklahoma baseball is about. 

"We talk about being men of character, operating with integrity, having strong work ethic and giving back to the community.  So it's good for our guys to see guys on the baseball team come out and exhibit those qualities.  It's a win-win for both the baseball team and our boys ranch."