With a clean bill of health, Kimmy enjoyed cheering on the Knights as they had a successful series against the Thundering Herd. She was overjoyed when the entire team signed a Mother’s Day card and joined her for a photo before the final game of the series.

The touching moment was one of many that Kimmy experienced during her battle with cancer as the UCF community rallied to offer encouragement. Kimmy and Lynn have supported UCF student-athletes and coaches in the stands at both home and away games for more than 20 years. The Knights showed the couple that they are part of the UCF family by offering that support right back.

“That was one of the most wonderful days in my life,” Kimmy said of Mother’s Day with the baseball team. “I had my last radiation treatment on Wednesday and we drove to West Virginia on Thursday. The whole team was so nice to us and seemed to appreciate us coming.”

Kimmy, a former teacher, and Lynn, a former football official, do not have children of their own but served as foster parents for several youngsters. When the couple from Titusville was done raising the children, they had more time to attend UCF events, and their love of the university and its student-athletes, coaches and fans began to grow.

“We have met an amazing bunch of people: coaches, players, parents and fans. We have seen some really great things,” Lynn said.

Those great things include nearly every football home and away contest, plus dozens of basketball and baseball games each year on campus and across the nation. Those road trips have only helped the couple connect with the Knights.

“We have gotten to know people. By going on road games, you become more connected with the players,” Kimmy said. “We know their struggles and can pray for them and encourage them academically as well.”

The couple’s love of baseball has always been apparent and was evident a few summers ago when they traveled to Elizabethton, Tenn., (which happens to be Lynn’s hometown) to watch former UCF ace Matt Fox pitch for the Twins’ minor league squad.

Baseball head coach Terry Rooney says that thoughtful instances like attending the professional game of a former Knight show the dedication and love that the couple has for UCF.

“It has been a great honor to get to know the Trivetts. We are so very fortunate to have a family like that associated with our program,” Rooney said. “Everybody knows them. All of our players know them. We are so appreciative of everything they do. “When you look up in the stands at the UCF baseball complex, you know where they are every single game. Then we look up when we are on the road, and they are there at a handful of away games. That is how much they care.”

The UCF family showed how much they cared about Kimmy and Lynn during her bout with cancer. Not only did the baseball team show its support, but so did student-athletes and coaches from other sports. A.J. Rompza presented Kimmy with a card and roses, his basketball teammates provided a signed jersey and football coach George O’Leary stopped by prior to a basketball game to offer encouragement.

“It was wonderful. That was so encouraging and loving,” Kimmy said. “I got very emotional.”

The Trivetts were touched by the concern that the UCF family had for her, just they impact student-athletes and coaches each day with their support.

“No matter what, win or lose, they are always there. They are true supporters, not only for our baseball program, but for every team here at UCF,” Rooney said. “They are part of the family.”

This story appears in the March issue of Knights Insider magazine. The publication, which is published six times per year, provides an inside look at UCF student-athletes, coaches and alumi.

After leaving their mark on the UCF baseball program, several former Knights are now busy in professional ball, highlighted by five players who are in Triple-A or higher.

Drew Butera (2003-05) is in his second full season with the Minnesota Twins and has taken over at catcher due to an injury to Joe Mauer. Continuing to impress with his defensive prowess behind the plate, Butera got a lot of attention Tuesday for calling Francisco Liriano’s no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox, which as just the fifth no-no in Minnesota Twins’ history.

Suiting up in Triple-A, Tyson Auer’s (2005-08) amazing run through the minor leagues has landed him with the Salt Lake Bees (Angels) this season. An undrafted free agent out of UCF, Auer started in rookie ball in 2008 and played for three different clubs last summer. Now with the Bees, the speedy center fielder has a .295 average in 24 games, banging out three triples, scoring 19 runs and swiping seven bases in nine attempts.

Joining Auer with the Bees, infielder Dwayne Bailey (2007-08) has also had a wild ride through the minors. Bailey competed for four different teams in 2010 after starting his professional career in rookie ball with Auer and the Orem Owlz. He then opened 2011 with the Class A Advanced Inland Empire 66ers before being called up in late April and eventually appeared in his first game with the Bees May 2 where he went 1-for-2 with a walk against Sacramento.

Also roaming the outfield in Triple-A, Clay Timpner (2002-04) has headed over to the Detroit Tigers’ organization and the Toledo Mud Hens. The former Giants’ product has seen time in 13 games with three runs and a RBI.

On the hill, Matt Fox (2002-04) served as a starter this year for the Pawtucket Red Sox before switching back to the pen. The righty currently owns a 4.43 ERA with a 2-2 record and 22 strikeouts in 22.1 innings. That includes not allowing a run in his previous 6.0 innings of work.

Fox and Timpner have both received a “cup of coffee” in the Majors during their careers, and with solid seasons could make it back to The Show very soon.

Meanwhile, other Knights have been assigned to extended spring training, including a pair of sluggers from last year’s squad Shane Brown and Chris Duffy.

For the complete list of Knights currently competing in pro ball, check out the full details below:

Hitters

Pitchers

It was June 4, 2004. The starting pitcher was Matt Fox while his battery mate was catcher Drew Butera, and the duo guided UCF to a 7-3 win over Oklahoma State in the NCAA Tournament. Fast forward to Sept. 3, 2010. Over six years after Fox’s last college game, he is slated to make his Major League Baseball debut as the Friday night starter for the Minnesota Twins, and his catcher could be Butera.

With the Twins holding a 3.5-game lead over the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central standings, they are preparing to host the AL-West leading Texas Rangers at 8:10 p.m. And the Fox-Butera combination may have a major impact in both teams’ playoff hopes.

Fox, a native of Coral Springs, Fla., was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the first round in 2004 after the right-hander was the Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Year with the Knights. However one month into his professional career, he fell victim to injuries, suffering a torn labrum and rotator cuff debridement. It took close to two years before he threw again, and did not reach 85 miles per hour until early 2007.

Starting at the rookie level in 2006, Fox quickly made his way up through the organization, eventually spending all of 2010 with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings posting a 6-9 record with a 3.95 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 123.0 innings. That is until his call up to The Show.

Due to his injuries, Fox, who was with UCF from 2002-04, was always just one level behind Butera in the minors. A catcher for the Knights from 2003-05 and a 2005 Johnny Bench Award semifinalist, Butera was selected by the New York Mets in the fifth round in 2005. He would later be acquired by the Twins in 2007 and ultimately found his way on their 2010 Opening Day roster. Earning respect in the front office for his defensive skills and his handling of the pitching staff, Butera has been serving as Joe Mauer’s backup catcher all season long.

And since Fox and Butera never spent time together in the minor leagues, Friday night could be the first time they reunite at the professional level.

Looking back on that memorable game 2004, Fox and Butera stood on the mound in the eighth inning with No. 20 UCF in the lead 7-3. Fox had pitched 7.2 innings and No. 24 Oklahoma State had just scored three unearned runs. With 121 pitches already to his credit, Fox’s collegiate career was coming to an end. Butera backed his starting hurler with two hits and a RBI against the Cowboys, making sure Fox was in line for the win. And when the Knights held on to take down OSU, Fox finished his campaign with a 14-2 record and a 1.85 ERA.

Little did they know that the next time Butera would catch Fox either collegiately or professionally, it could very well happen in front of over 40,000 fans.