By Katy St. Clair

The morning was all “criss-cross applesauce” and smiles as the children at Dan Mini Elementary lined up to receive their new backpacks full of school supplies for the new year on Thursday.

“Yayyy!” exclaimed a second-grader, tightening her pack’s straps proudly.

The kids came in three groups to get their goodies, all provided by the Pitcch In Foundation, a nonprofit started by New York Yankees baseball player CC Sabathia and his family. Sabathia is a Vallejo native who has been giving back to kids here for eight years.

“It’s very exciting to know that every kid gets a backpack,” said Dan Mini Principal Heather Topacio. “They feel so proud. And we know we can count on it every year,” she said.

And every kid did indeed get a backpack, so that no one feels singled out for being in need more than others.

“This is fabulous,” said a second-grade teacher in passing, as she corralled her kids back to class. “We have students that don’t have basic supplies.”

Source: Pitcch In Foundation put the “backpacks” in “back to school” in Vallejo – Benicia