Tyler

It was a chilly April night, but Travis Roberts only had one thing on his mind…baseball!

The Tyler 11-year-old was on cloud nine as he walked through The Ballpark in Arlington on the opening Friday night of the season. There was only one other fan who could rival Travis’ enthusiasm to catch a baseball during pre-game practice… his dad, George. The two share a passion for baseball and for collecting baseballs at games from players, umps or the rare snag in the stands.

But, George Roberts also knew Travis had an equal passion for music, so that night when the pair stumbled upon a Rangers’ open audition booth to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” the two took a detour.

“I saw the booth and told Travis he should try out,” said Mr. Roberts.

Surprisingly, Travis agreed.

“It was fun, plus they gave me a Baby Ruth candy bar!”

With almost 200 fans auditioning, the Robertses didn’t think anything of it until Mom opened the mail a couple weeks later,

“I vaguely remembered George saying something about Travis singing, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” but it didn’t click until we got the letter saying that Travis was one of only 20 fans chosen,” said Leslie Roberts.

The letter explained that Travis would stand on the third base dugout during the seventh inning stretch and lead the crowd on microphone, by himself, during a Rangers game of his choice.

Dad was thrilled: “When Leslie called to tell me, I was ecstatic. I knew Travis had done a great job and something told me he had a chance!”

It didn’t take long for Mom and Dad to decide how to break the news to their baseball-loving, musical son. They would tell him at church. Travis is a member of the Choir School of East Texas, a ministry of Christ Episcopal Church in Tyler for third through seventh graders. Rehearsal was scheduled for that day, and the director of the choir surprised Travis by reading the Rangers’ letter before the choir.

“I was shocked. I never dreamed I’d make it,” said Travis, who said the other choir members applauded and told him “really cool” and “awesome.”

When given the option to choose at which game Travis would sing, the criteria was clear: the Robertses would need to pick a game the choir school members could attend.

“We could have chosen a (game against) Boston, which as baseball fans would have been great, but it wasn’t a good time for the kids and the chances of them getting good seats were slim,” said Mr. Roberts.

The Robertses chose today's match-up between the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers, right before the start of school. The children and their families are headed to tonight's game by bus.

Artistic Director Dr. Jerry Davidson says the Rangers trip is more closely aligned with the Choir School’s mission than one would think.

“We are thrilled to support Travis and to give these talented children a chance to see how music can give them opportunities in life they have never dreamed of,” he said.

Travis went to Arlington early to meet up with family flying in from Tennessee for the event. Travis admits he is a little taken aback at all the fuss, but honored, “I never expected all this, but it’s cool, really cool.”

-- submitted by Diana Keesey, executive director, Choir School of East Texas

Travis Roberts
(Courtesy photo)