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PAWTUCKET, R.I. — An umpire shouting “Play ball!” The crack of the bat smacking a home run. The thwack of a 90-mile-per-hour fastball hitting the catcher’s mitt. The cheers of the crowd when their home team wins the game.

That’s what three residents of Community Strategies’ Wrentham program took in during a recent trip to McCoy Stadium where they cheered on the Pawtucket Red Sox.

Always striving to encourage our clients to become more active and engaging in community activities, staff of Wrentham joined residents Roy Mason, Peter Sobol, and David Proia at the game.

“It was a good game,” Mason said afterward.

Playing on a cold, crisp Wednesday afternoon, the Pawtucket Red Sox lost a 5-2 heartbreaker to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders. The cold didn’t dampen Sobol’s spirit, as he maintained a smile throughout the game and told staff that he “loves baseball.” Proia enjoyed the mascot races and activities in between innings. Everyone wondered in how they could move so freely wearing such bulky costumes.

Sitting over a lunch of burgers, ballpark franks, and cold drinks, our group discussed the game. I pointed out to the group that it was always interesting in watching future baseball prospects before they make it up to the big leagues and even better when they become MLB All-Stars like Dustin Pedroia, Jon Lester, or Roger Clemens. Roy Mason said it was cool to see a player smack a home run over the left field wall.

While walking back to the parking lot, we stopped periodically to take a glimpse of the different posters and statues of past and current players. McCoy Stadium has its own history with many successful ballplayers skyrocketing through the ranks to the Major Leagues. Thousands of people have enjoyed a game or two throughout the years in Pawtucket. As staff in Wrentham, we encouraged our clients Roy Mason, Peter Sobol, and David Proia to become part of that legacy too.