Orioles Pitcher, Bird Visit Winning School Of 'Go Orange' Challenge
LINTHICUM, Md. (WJZ)—The competition was fierce. But the Orioles worked long and hard to choose a winner in its "Go Orange" school challenge.
As Gigi Barnett reports, the best schools have the most orange spirit.
As Orioles post-season tickets go on sale for the first time in 15 years, the team stirred up its youngest fans this month by asking them to "Go Orange."
Students and teachers and students covered everything in team colors.
"There's yellow. No, no, no, not yellow. I mean orange, white and black," said Tomi Majekodunmi, St. Philip Neri kindergarten student.
But only one school knocked the O's challenge out of the park.
St. Philip Neri School in Linthicum Heights was the grand prize winner, and this is the reward: a visit from Orioles players and the O's bird.
The message to the kids: "Dreams come true. They do," said Tommy Hunter, Orioles pitcher.
So, what set St. Philip Neri apart? The judges found unique things like naming O's manager Buck Showalter its honorary principal. Students worked around the clock to decorate the school.
"We had a lot of pizzazz with it. Everybody got behind it," said Debby Flynn, St. Philip Neri teacher.
More than 30 schools statewide took part in the "Go Orange" challenge.
St. Philip Neri students say they're ready to defend their title for next year.
Schools were judged in three categories: overall creativity, school spirit and best use of orange. Judges say St. Philip Neri got an "A" in all the categories.
