Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – For a historic first season, a visit Thursday by several players in the Women’s Professional Baseball League might have been the pinnacle of their off-field activities.

More than a half-dozen players — one player from the New York Heights and the rest from the Boston Hunters — visited patients and employees at HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital Thursday.

For the Hunters’ Sabrina Robinson, who plays 1st Base, the visit was personal.

“I spent a lot of time in hospitals growing up.  My dad passed away from cancer when I was 12,” said Robinson.  “It means a lot to be able to give back off the field, because Springfield has shown us so much support on the field.”

Employees and children alike had their eyes light up when the players visited with them.

“Everyone just has huge smiles on their faces, and I just feel really good,” said Robinson.

The goodwill gesture meant as much to the hospital.

“Players are coming in town (Thursday) to play a significant game here locally,” said Aryn Hunter, Chief Administrative Officer of the hospital.  “We had purchased a lot of tickets for our colleagues, so we have almost a full house of our own colleagues (Thursday night at Robin Roberts Stadium).  The players wanted to come here and celebrate the kids that we serve.  We’re really excited that they came on site.”

The players signed autographs, got some hugs, and even signed a mural made on one of the hospital’s windows.

Hunter believes having the league in town all summer has been good for Springfield.  Robinson says much the same.

“The town of Springfield has been so welcoming and so open,” said Robinson — who never believed there would be a WPBL.  She grew up wanting to play in men’s pro baseball initially.  She says playing in her own league has been “surreal.”