Bishop England's Gilbert selects Miracle League for sizable donation

The first pitch of Geoffrey Gilbert’s senior year was perfect. Everyone watching in the Forrest Park Playground cheered. Both dugouts celebrated. Bishop England's left-handed ace has thrown better strikes, sure. There were a more than a few memorable hurls during the Bishops’ run to consecutive state titles the past two years. None of them, though, quite as impactful as this one. Gilbert facilitated a $1,000 donation to the Charleston Miracle League, a local non-profit baseball organization for players with special needs, through Gatorade's Play It Forward program. He threw out the ceremonial first pitch on opening day, Sept. 8, which the league has declared Geoffrey Gilbert Day in honor of his contribution. “(The Miracle League) means a lot to me because it’s a game that I love and it’s a way to give back,” Gilbert said. “Out here, we’re all the same and we’re playing the same game we love so it’s easy to bond through that.” The Bishops’ star was named the Gatorade South Carolina Baseball Player of the Year in May. As such, he was trusted to choose a youth sports organization to receive a grant from Gatorade. Gilbert became interested in helping athletes with special needs through Bishop England’s options program, the school’s progressive approach to integrating students with disabilities into a more typical school day. He was already familiar with the Miracle League through prior volunteer work with the Bishops baseball team, which was again involved in opening day this season as it is most years. “That’s kind of why we do what we do here at the Miracle League, to let our kids grow in a different way other than just baseball,” Bishop England coach Mike Darnell said. “The baseball is what brings this whole thing together but from Geoffrey’s standpoint it’s about becoming a better young man.” The donation will be put toward the Miracle League’s annual expenses. The league provides uniforms at no cost for players and coaches. It runs a concession stand during games and, in a few years, will need to refurbish its specially designed rubber field. "That heartfelt donation will be put to good use,” Miracle League Board of Directors member Miguel Mata said. “I think it’s a testament to what Bishop England baseball stands for and I think it’s a testament to what the coaches represent. These guys are taking away some very valuable life lessons. As we all know, there’s a lot more to the game of baseball than just the game and we’re seeing that with (Geoffrey’s) contribution.” Gilbert was the first junior to be named Gatorade South Carolina Baseball Player of the Year in the award’s 32-year history. He was historically dominant last season, finishing with a 0.21 ERA, allowing just two earned runs and 19 hits while striking out 93 batters. He didn’t allow a single earned through any of his four postseason starts and ended the season with a complete-game shutout that clinched the state championship series. Gilbert has been committed to Clemson since his sophomore year of high school. As the state’s top-rated high school prospect, though, he’s likely to have much to consider ahead of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft in June. “I don’t even know if I’ll be going to prom,” he joked. “There are a lot of options. There’s a lot that I’m focused on right now but the thing I’m most focused on is continuing to grow as a man and as a person. Whatever helps me do that is what I’m going to put my best interest in.”

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Bishop England High School Athletics

BISHOP ENGLAND'S GILBERT SELECTS MIRACLE LEAGUE FOR SIZABLE DONATION

FRANKIE MANSFIELD

Moultrie News | 9/20/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Frankie Mansfield