MLB

TECH SUPPORT

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Having already contributed $1 million to Virginia Tech, the Yankees buoyed the spirits of this still recovering campus further yesterday by donning their pinstripes and playing the Hokies at English Field.

After touring a student-built memorial for the 32 people killed by a crazed gunman less than a year ago that brought tears to Yankees manager Joe Girardi’s eyes, the Yankees took their rock star image to the batting cage, where Virginia Tech’s players elbowed each other for a better look at Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi before the Yanks won, 11-0. Overflow attendance was 5,311.

“This will be the most important game I have played in my Yankee career,” said Rodriguez, who for one day brushed aside the brutal encounters with the Red Sox. “You realize how fragile life is. At the memorial entrance one girl asked me to sign a picture of her boyfriend and he passed away last year. Our prayers go out to all the families. We are honored to be here. The Yankees made a nice donation and it could have been nice to send a check but it was important to be here. Baseball can be a medicine, it’s very therapeutic. It fixes a lot of things for a short period of time.”

Jeter, who has played in six World Series and has four rings, was in sync with Rodriguez’s impressive statement.

“I have been a Yankee for a long time and it’s up there with the memorable moments,” said Jeter, who also had a touching moment at the memorial.

“It was a very nice story,” Jeter said. “She asked me to take a picture with her at her fiance’s memorial stone. I told her to smile and she smiled.”

Girardi said, “When I went up in the first inning and sat with (Virginia Tech football coach) Frank Beamer, a young lady came to me. She said her brother had been killed and her mother thanks me. That hit me hard.”

According to Hal Steinbrenner and Yankees president Randy Levine, the decision to aid Virginia Tech was made by George Steinbrenner “four to five minutes” following the tragic events of last April 16.

“As a parent something like this is unfathomable to understand what the parents of those kids went through. My father spent a lot of time on college campuses as a coach,” said Hal, who was very comfortable in a public setting, something that isn’t always the case.

Even though there was no connection between the Yankees and Virginia Tech, Levine said the severity of the tragedy moved the club to help.

“The magnitude and shock value, when that happened the Boss said, ‘Get a hold of Virginia Tech.’ It doesn’t matter if there was a connection to Virginia Tech,” Levine explained.

“It was very moving to me,” Girardi said of the memorial tour. “It brought tears to my eyes. What those families and the college have been through. How difficult it must have been. It’s a real reminder how precious life is. To me it should have moved our players. You have to give back everyday because you don’t know what tomorrow is about. This should move you to do the best you can. I think it’s something our players will talk about for a long time.”

Virginia Tech coach Pete Hughes’ young club is mired in an eight-game losing streak but yesterday wasn’t all about baseball.

“It’s an opportunity of a lifetime and I am honored to be part of it,” the second-year coach said.

For Kyle Cichy, a Vineland, N.J. native, it was a day he will never forget.

“It’s a dream come true,” the pitcher said. “Your whole life you want to be them and they are standing in front of you.”

george.king@nypost.com