RV softball raising money to help improve facilities
River View High School’s softball team is hoping to not only improve their skills, but also their facilities this year.
Head coach Willie Infante started a GoFundMe page to help the team with three specific projects. They want to upgrade their concession stand and equipment and lawn mower sheds, replace their outdoor batting cage, and put money toward the upkeep of their facilities.
“Through this fundraiser we would like to downsize from three different sheds to two bigger sheds,” Infante said on the GoFundMe page. “The newest shed we have is believed to be between 15-20 years old with the oldest being 35-plus years old. These sheds have withstood the elements for this long, but the wear and tear is starting to show. All of our sheds have signs of mice, raccoons, groundhogs and possums taking refuge in them, which in turn has caused damage to our equipment, mower, supplies and food in our concession stand.”
The state of the outdoor batting cage has become a safety issue for the athletes.
“Last year our pitcher was warming up and got hit by a ball that came through one of the holes in it,” senior Jaylinn Williamson said.
Zip ties have been used for the last 10 years to keep softballs from escaping the cage during batting practice.
“The current condition of our net has our girls being placed strategically in places where we know a ball cannot escape after being hit, although there’s been times a new hole is made and players get hit with softballs,” Infante said.
The athletes help with the upkeep of the facility.
“We drag it and put the bases away,” sophomore Madison Graham said.
They also spend time picking rocks out of the infield and pulling weeds when needed.
“We do have a person who takes care of things like lining the field and mowing,” Infante said. “We just lend them an extra hand. We want the girls to take pride in their facility.”
The fundraising goal for the three projects is $5,000. Donations can be made on the GoFundMe page or sent to the high school and marked for the River View softball program.
“It means a lot to me that people are willing to help,” junior Abby Lorenz said. “I love to play softball. It’s my go-to sport.”
Williamson agreed the support is much appreciated.
“It will be nice to look back and know that we were able to get some new things that made it better for not just us, but future generations,” she said.
Both Infante and JV head coach Trinity Shuman are very appreciative of those who have donated to help with the upgrades and those who have supported the program over the years.
Category: High School, Sports
