Pirates host fund-raiser for the Big Green

By Kim Cox
kcox@campcountynow.com

When a baseball field is built in the 1940s, and is still in use today, some upgrades might be necessary.
According to Guy DeLuna, a volunteer, for the past two years, that’s what they have been doing and will be doing this Saturday.
“We’d like to raise as much as we can,” he said.
Saturday’s event will  run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and include a junior varsity game at 11 a.m., a varsity game at 2 p.m., and a hit-a-thon by the Varsity Pirates right after their game. The Pirates will Play against Terrell.
Mr. DeLuna said children under 12 who come to the game in their full baseball uniform can shag the ball in the outfield during the hit-a-thon.
According to Turnette Truitt, another parent volunteer, they have repaired the lights at the field, they are getting a rolling door to the entrance of Big Green, batting cages, banners to the oudoor fence, and a new mat behing home plate.
“It’s a continuous, ongoing thing to keep the field in tip-top shape,” Mrs. Truitt said. “We’ve built storage underneath the bleachers, put some windscreens behind the bleachers and moved the flag pole. “
And all these repairs come from parent volunteers, said Mr. DeLuna, a core group of seven or eight parents that come up to the field and help, with other parents helping as their time allows. Mrs. Truitt said the most hardcore volunteer is Mr. DeLuna himself.
“He could spend the night over there just doing things,” she said.
The money raised on Saturday will help cover the current projects, although Mr. DeLuna said a future project might be a new scoreboard.
“The boys wanted a new scoreboard, but it would cost $15,000,” he said.
Mr. DeLuna encouraged everyone to come to the ballfield, even if they couldn’t come on Saturday, to come to the games.
“We want people to know there is a nice park here,” he said. “We don’t even charge on days we play. We’ve got a pretty good team this year.”