Historic Damaschke Field in downtown Oneonta was filled with Red Dragon spirit Thursday night as several hundred employees, alumni, students, families and friends gathered for the first ever SUNY Oneonta Night with the Oneonta Outlaws baseball team.
The special evening celebrated the university's connection to the local community while giving future and current Red Dragons an opportunity to enjoy America's pastime together.
President Alberto Cardelle kicked off the festivities by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before senior Megan Dwyer delivered a stirring rendition of the National Anthem.
“I feel really honored,” said Dwyer, a Digital and Studio Art major and Theatre minor from Syracuse, NY. “I’ve been in many SUNY Oneonta productions and performances so being able to represent the school in this way off campus is a big honor.”
Throughout the game, SUNY Oneonta mascot Red kept the energy high, tossing T-shirts into the stands, joining fans for photos and high-fives, competing in a between-inning dance-off and even running the bases.
The partnership between the university and the Outlaws extended onto the field, where three bat boys and bat girls with SUNY Oneonta connections—Camden and Emmy Hill and Theo Vitale—wore red Oneonta shirts throughout the game, as the Oneonta Outlaws took on the visiting Saugerties Stallions.
The crowd reflected the many connections that make the SUNY Oneonta community special, with current students attending alongside faculty and staff, alumni, local families and prospective students. Members of the university's welcoming team handing out giveaways and SUNY Oneonta swag met one family visiting for the school’s Summer Open House the following day who stopped by the game to explore downtown Oneonta.
"I think tonight's turnout was a reminder that being a Red Dragon isn't limited to classrooms or residence halls," Dr. Cardelle said. "Whether on campus or at the ballpark, SUNY Oneonta brings people together through shared experiences, school pride and meaningful community connections."