Youth Baseball players utilizing the pitching machine purchased with the MLB grant money.
When Oscar Reich walked into his 8th-grade Civics class at Amherst Regional Middle School, he didn’t expect the final project would lead him to Major League Baseball.
As part of the annual Civic Action Project at ARMS, Oscar was challenged to identify an issue he cared about and take real-world steps to address it. As a lifelong baseball fan and active player in the Amherst Baseball youth leagues, he saw an opportunity to give back to the game that had given him so much. With persistence, creativity, and a little offseason determination, Oscar applied for and received a grant from the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation to purchase new equipment for Amherst Baseball.
His winning proposal secured $1,870 worth of baseball gear, including a pitching machine and five dozen baseballs. The grant was fulfilled by Pitch In For Baseball and Softball, the MLB Foundation’s national equipment partner.
Oscar didn’t stop working on the project when the school year ended. He continued refining his proposal into the summer, finalizing it with support from his parents, even while away at camp! After a few late nights and one extension later, the formal application was submitted, and just three days later, Oscar learned he’d hit it out of the park.
Now entering 10th grade, Oscar says the experience taught him that student voice can carry real weight.
Youth Baseball players utilizing the pitching machine purchased with the MLB grant money.
“I found it fun. It felt like I was doing something that actually mattered in the world,” Oscar said. “Many times in classes, you do things for your own benefit, but when this idea came to mind, I was doing it for [my] baseball team.”
The pitching machine has already seen action this spring, with players of all ages getting a turn at bat. The project is a home run example of how the Civic Action Project allows students to blend academic learning with community impact.
The annual Civic Action Project remains a cornerstone of the 8th-grade Civics curriculum at ARMS. By guiding students through research, advocacy, and action, the project helps them see themselves not just as learners, but as leaders.
“Oscar’s project reflects the very best of what student-centered learning can achieve,” said Superintendent Dr. Xi. “Through his civic action project, this student saw a need in his community, took initiative, and secured a grant to support his community. I am incredibly proud of the leadership and determination he demonstrated, and I know his work will have a lasting impact.”
Thanks to Oscar’s vision and determination, future players in Amherst Baseball will take the field with better tools and a powerful example of what civic engagement can look like in action.