Kids celebrate after Call for Action team helps get them a new pitching machine

(WXYZ) - With a big, broad smile on his face, Father John Rocus fires baseballs high into the air with the help of a brand new baseball pitching machine.

You see, Father Rocus is taking the kids at Holy Spirit Catholic School through baseball practice - something they haven’t been able to do in more than a month.

That’s because, four weeks ago, a heartless thief stole Father John’s baseball machine right out of the school‘s equipment shed, in back of the church.

 That’s when the Call for Action team stepped up to the plate to help the kids out.

At that point, I did a big story and asked our loyal Channel 7 viewers to help us buy the kids at Holy Spirit a brand new pitching machine.

And just like that.  Bam! Dozens of Metro Detroiters responded to our call.  In fact, too many people, more than we could tap, offered their help. 

In the end, a fantastic guy named Gary Symburski agreed to pay the entire purchase price of $400.00 to buy the kids a brand new Atec Power Stream baseball throwing machine.

So what do the kids think of it?

Everybody I talked to says this machine is much, much better than what they used to have.

Little Anne Marie Klinger told me, “This machine is so cool.  Plus it gives Father John a break from having to throw a hundred balls up in the air to us.”