Give me shelter
Published 12:03 am Friday, January 10, 2014
When it rains, it pours.
And when it pours, Red Level’s baseball players can’t partake in batting practice because their batting cage is without a roof.
In order to fix that problem, some of the players’ mothers got together and came up with a fundraising idea that already has seen success.
Melissa Martin is selling metal signs that will be placed in the baseball field’s new concession stand. The profits will go to help pay for the cage’s new roof.
Martin works at the Covington County courthouse and said there are a lot of attorneys and people who she remains in contact with who stream on through on a daily basis.
“That’s the reason why I got into it,” she said. “I always try to help out Red Level Schools.”
The signs will be 12 inches by 24 inches in size, and can be customized with a family’s name, your business or church name.
Cost for a sign is $100 for the first year, and $75 for each renewal year.
Martin said when the players’ mothers came up with the idea, she was picked because she’s “the best for fundraising.”
In just two hours Wednesday morning, Martin said she raised about $1,200, and had 12 people sign up.
RLS baseball coach Tony Ingram said covering the batting cage has been a project for years.
“Our batting cage has pretty much had it,” Ingram said. “It’s been a work in progress.”
Ingram said the baseball field was built in 2002 without any lights, and that it took a few years for the school to get them in place.
The most recent addition to the field is the new press box and concession stand, leaving the final bit of additional work to be done left for the batting cage.
Ingram said there’s already a good concrete slab, which has served the team well for years, at the base of the cage. He added that the nets will need to be replaced.
“If we had a top on it, then the kids can get in there and hit,” he said. “Now, the kids are strictly limited to going in the gym.
“We’d really like to have the top,” he said.
In addition to selling signs for the concession stand, the team also sells signs for the outfield fence.
During the season, the signs tend to tear because of the weather, Ingram said.
Having these new and smaller tin signs will give purchasers the opportunity to put them up and not worry about them wearing out, the coach said.
Ingram said the school is shooting to raised around $5,000 to build a roof for the batting case and widen the cage with the current concrete slab underneath.
“We think $5,000 will get what we need,” Ingram said. “Fundraising is so hard now. It’s a good way for advertising and getting something out of it.
“It really helps the kids,” he said. “We appreciate every business or individual who participates. Everything goes back to the kids, and that’s what it’s all about.”
To purchase a sign or for more information, contact Martin by phone at 334-488-9222, or via Facebook.