SEASIDE, Calif. – Cal State Monterey Bay softball head coach Andrea Kenney knows the importance of community service while balancing school work and team athletic commitments.  This past semester, the softball team has continued their volunteering ventures at various organizations.
 
Three days each week, the team goes in small groups to teach remedial reading at McKinnon Elementary School in Salinas.  Previous years, the Otters assisted in physical education classes.
 
“After volunteering with McKinnon for the past few years, when the need for help with remedial reading arose, we were contacted and we were thrilled to be of service,” Kenney said.
 
After playing four years on the Otter softball team, former All-American Jamie Moon took a position at the Sunrise Senior Living in Monterey after graduating last spring. The 2012-13 team has been visiting the home, which serves residents with dementia and Alzheimer's disease.  This year the Otters have a group that goes bi-weekly to share stories, do arts and crafts or help out in any way we can.
 
Due to Kenney's love for the ocean, the team does monthly cleanup at the local beaches.  They pick up paper, cans, cigarette buds and other trash.
 
The Otters open their 2013 campaign at the Mizuno Best of the West Invitational hosted by Cal State Stanislaus Feb. 2-3 in Turlock.