It was a special day for kids in Oshkosh after the group Oshkosh4Education raised nearly $300,000 to improve area schools.
Friday, students at one of those schools enjoyed the end result.
As they took their turn to kick, run the bases, and come on home, they did it with smiles stretching from first to third.
"It was fun, I had a lot of fun," fifth grader Jazzlyn said.
The cheers shared Friday are a long time coming. Just like these kids rallied on the field, Oshkosh rallied for them.
"We really took it upon ourselves to start freshening up the schools and make each one the best that it could be," Oshkosh4Education coordinator Beth Wyman said.
The kickball field is one of the first projects to be finished.
"They used to have to put lunch boxes or cardboard down for the bases and we though, my gosh, can't we get a kickball field? And we did," Wyman said.
Now, with the work done, it's time to play ball.
"This is our first like, true game," fifth grader Nelson said.
All the fifth graders needed Friday was a challenger, so in came the Oshkosh Police Department.
"They were a lot older, they were a lot taller," Nelson said.
But these kids had homefield advantage.
"The fifth graders ended up winning which was awesome," Nelson said.
"It was a hard fought battle, we tried hard," Police Chief Dean Smith said. "They overtook us at the end. We'll be back next year."
Officers said that despite the loss, the day is a win.
"We had fun, the officers coming together out here, and playing kickball with the kids, and really having an opportunity to interact, and smile, and laugh," Chief Smith said.
And that's what it's all about - a fun day for kids on a field just for them.
