Fundraisers Set For Softball Field Construction Work
By David Howell
WATER VALLEY – The softball booster club is working diligently toward building a home field – with ambitious expectations of completion in time for the Lady Devil’s February season opener.
“We are looking for donations,” said the team’s coach, Shane Brown. The softball field’s booster club has undertaken the project to give the team a permanent home field. In previous years the team had played on a field at Crawford Sports Complex.
Work began on the home field, which is located on school property adjacent to the high school known as “the hole,”in early August. To date, some of the biggest contributions include dozer work on the site by Frank and Brad Brooks, design work on the actual layout of the facility by John Lewis, and dirt work by a local farmer.
“We have still got a lot more to do,” Brown said. Other materials donated or pledged, according to Brown, include fencing material, bricks, and other items.
The booster club plans to construct the field with in-kind donations and financial contributions, according to Brown.
“We are getting a tremendous amount of support in the community,” booster club spokesman Cayce Washington agreed.
“It is a pretty large undertaking,” Washington added saying the field was not just for today, but for future years.
Also planned for the next three weeks are fund-raisers, including setting up a food booth at each of the next two Saturday night Music in the Park festivals on Main Street.
The third fund-raiser event, planned for October 20, is a barbecue meal at Sylva Rena Community Center. Tickets are $6 and booster club members have set a goal of selling 700 plates. Checks for this fundraising event can be made to Sylva Rena Community Center, Washington added. This event starts at 11 a.m. and will last until the plates are sold out.
Anyone interested in finding out more information or making a contribution is urged to contact booster club president, Chad Kimzey; booster club secretary Leigh Ann Coffey; or booster club treasurer Michelle Washington.
Brown also expressed gratitude for the support from the community.
“It shows you how much the people care about this community, the girls and sports,” Brown said.
