There are not many high school student-athletes who leave a lasting mark on their programs. Not just for their athletic accomplishments, but also for who they are as people.
Andrew Hagins, a 2006 graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School who died suddenly in December of 2023, fit that description perfectly. He was not only a prolific player on the OPRF baseball team, but a friend to many of his teammates and others he deeply cared about.
Last year, the Huskies honored Hagins before a game against Hinsdale South. Hagins’ parents, family members, and many of his former teammates were on hand as OPRF put a successful cap on the day’s festivities with a 13-2 victory.
This year’s Andrew Hagins Day will take place on May 17 at 11 a.m. as OPRF hosts Willowbrook. Toni Hagins, Andrew’s mother, hopes to make this event a yearly occurrence.
“The community has been very supportive of the scholarship [program],” Hagins told Wednesday Journal in a phone interview. “It’s just been a really good thing.”
The Andrew Hagins Scholarship is presented to the OPRF varsity baseball player who best exemplifies the traits Hagins displayed, not just in baseball but in his life.
“Hard work, teamwork, those kinds of things,” Toni Hagins said. “There are many deserving kids, but we’ve got to pick just one. We did this year, and we intend on doing this for many years to come.”
Hagins added that this year’s winner will be announced in a pregame ceremony before Saturday’s game, and there will be a special board created to list each year’s recipients.
“I wanted to honor Andrew and somehow give back because the school, he just loved it,” she said. “He loved the game of baseball and he loved to play up until the time he passed. I’m sure he’d still be playing if he was here.”
Hagins is hoping for another strong showing of support from the community on Saturday, similar to last year.
“It really was a community thing last year,” she said. “People who I worked with at the high school came out; our family and friends came out. Even strangers who knew Andrew in passing or heard about the event came out. They all wanted to come and support him. It was wonderful.”
Hagins added that she would like to hold similar events for local youth baseball programs.
“I think about how we can expand,” she said, “to benefit Oak Park youth baseball going forward. Maybe I’ll come up with something, or somebody will put their head together with me and come up with something.”
One person Hagins knows she can rely on is OPRF head coach Kevin Campbell, whom she said has been there for her from the beginning.
“Coach Campbell has been so wonderful and supportive of Andrew Hagins Day and everything that has gone along with it,” she said. “It was like [Campbell] fell from heaven honestly, and he’s just been terrific.”
