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BLACKSBURG, Va. – For the third straight academic year, Virginia Tech baseball will continue its 19 Ways campaign, which is a challenge for the baseball team to find 19 ways to make a difference. The program, which was introduced in 2010 by head coach Pete Hughes and who wears No. 19 for the Hokies, is a chance for the players to get involved and give back to the community.

“This (19 Ways) is going to be part of our program for as long as I am here,” Hughes said back in 2010. “This is just as important as any other phase of our program – to get our kids out in the community and to have an impact on less fortunate groups.

"And it’s just as important to get our guys out of their comfort zone and to do good for others and I think that helps them grow. This is going to be who we are as a program, and it’s not me telling our guys to do it, it’s our guys taking ownership of that and they have.”

Putting forth more of an effort to reach people directly and get the word out on past and upcoming events, the staff has developed a facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/19Ways. The desired result is to inform the community about 19 Ways and get them involved however they can to help the team reach its goal - by donations, offering suggestions or volunteering. For more information on 19 Ways, visit the facebook page, and then, please, "Like" it.

Also, WSLS's Lindsey Ward recently stopped by a Hokie practice and spoke with Coach Hughes and several players about 19 Ways for a segment of "Making a Difference" which aired Thursday night during the 6 p.m. broadscast. Click here to see the video.

For updates on Virginia Tech baseball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Baseball).