Boosters help with baseball, softball
Sports reporter
mnorris817@gmail.com
Every spring, just after high school baseball and softball seasons and right before 100-degree temperatures, local youth baseball and softball teams hit the fields to start their season.
At the Marion Baseball/Softball complex teams from T-ball to 16-year-olds play ball with provided equipment and on well-maintained fields.
Each player is charged a fee to play, but that is only to combat costs for the Marion/USD 408 REC board.
"We don't try to make money off any activities," REC director Margo Yates said. "We try to break even."
But what has made money, and in turn allows for new catchers' equipment, bats, and helmets, is the Baseball/Softball Boosters Club.
While most of the money the club makes comes from the concession stand, some comes from individual and family donors, as well as advertisers who in turn receive a sign on one of the ballpark's fences.
Yates said the money the club generates is beneficial to the REC department.
"It helps us keeps fees down," she said.
While the Boosters Club works with the Marion/USD 408 REC board and the baseball/softball commission indirectly, all three are separate entities.
The REC board oversees all activities from gymnastics to baseball, while the baseball/softball commission only tends to the needs of those two sports.
Cindy Ragland is chairman of the commission, and said it works as an advisory council to the REC board.
Every night when baseball or softball games are played, either Yates, or field maintenance chief Terry Edwards, are at the complex.
The same goes for at least one member of the baseball/softball commission.
The members take suggestions or complaints from baseball and softball parents, and try to deal with them as they can.
If not, Ragland said they go to the Marion/USD 408 REC board.
While all three organizations are different, the better each one runs individually, the smoother the summer sports season goes.
In its six years the boosters club has raised more than $15,000 used toward facility upgrades according to Yates, which helps all three entities.
The rest of the money has gone toward providing equipment.
"It's important," Ragland said of the club. "There is no city mill levy for baseball and softball."
Pitching in
As the 12-year-old Cal Ripken Midwest Regional baseball tournament approaches, the boosters will need more help than ever in the concession stand.
It will be a lot more work than a normal week, but in the end the money will be beneficial for the REC program.
The stand usually serves hot dogs and brats as the main items, but will have hamburgers during the tournament.
With the new bathroom facility currently being installed at the park, the City of Marion has said it will help expand the concession stand according to Yates.
The current bathrooms are directly behind the stand, and can be knocked out to provide more room for the cramped concession stand.
Yates and Ragland are excited for the improvements, but know that even the tiny stand there now provides more for fans than most other parks around the area.
In fact, some regional high school baseball sites don't even have concession stands.
Ragland said she had a parent from a visiting school during the recent regional baseball tournament hosted by Marion apologize to her for bringing her own grill.
The mom told Ragland they were tired of going to regionals and having nothing to eat.
"Maybe I'm biased," Ragland said. "But I think we have one of the best concession stands around."
From donors to the concession stand help, to Edwards' and Yates' dedication to having a nice facility, many people in Marion play a role in keeping the REC baseball and softball seasons successful.
"It really is important," Ragland said of the volunteer help. "And we could always use help," she added with a smile.
