BY LANI HANSEN, REPORTER
The UKB Education Department aids the Hornets with new equipment.
STILWELL – The Cave Springs High School softball team received a large donation of new and used softball equipment from Pitch in for Baseball and Softball.
The team was all smiles when UKB Education Director Dr. Leslie Hannah brought in the equipment for them. Cave Springs is a public school located in Bunch serving grades P-3 through 12th, according to Superintendent C.D. Thompson.
According to the Pitch in for Baseball and Softball website, their mission is to provide new and gently used baseball and softball equipment to boys and girls in the United States and around the world who play ball.
“I was doing research one day to find anything to help some of our schools, and when I came across the Pitch in for Baseball and Softball criteria, I thought we qualify for that,” Dr. Hannah said. “I had submitted an application for their help, and it was reviewed, not too long after I received an email of being approved.”
Pitch in for Baseball and Softball donated buckets of practice softballs, helmets, bat bags, equipment bags and a total of ten bats for the team to use.
When asked about the donations received, Cave Springs seniors Annabell Maxwell and Sadie Ritter both agreed how the team was appreciative of the new equipment.
“It was pretty nice, we’ve never had new equipment so it will be good for the new players coming in to use for the rest of their high school career,” Maxwell said.
The Cave Springs slowpitch softball team is made up of 14 players. They are coached by head coach Tom Osburn with two assistant coaches Marc Sherrell and Braeden Thomas.
“We appreciate any help we can get, our bucket of balls was getting waterlogged,” Osburn commented about the donation. “We have three seniors who will be leaving us after this year, the rest of them are dominant players."
The Lady Hornets had a season opener against the Gans Grizzlies on March 9, coming on the field with new equipment.
Sherrell and Thomas who both coach fastpitch, brings in the same team from slowpitch.
"We are excited the girls will experience the new equipment in both seasons, fastpitch starts in August," both coaches said.
The day Dr. Hannah was able to donate the equipment, he had the opportunity to speak to the team. It was an exciting day for Dr. Hannah at Cave Springs.
"I told the players I believe students can be taught lessons on the ballfield too, outside of the classrooms," Dr. Hannah said. "I told them I am not giving this equipment because I felt sorry for them, but that I believe in them."
UKB Education is planning to help more schools with getting equipment and is hoping to become a donation center for Pitch in for Baseball and Softball.
