A grassroots effort from its conception to completion, the new indoor hitting facility for Elizabethton High School softball players is nearly finished.
Athletes on the team organized numerous fundraisers and sourced labor and donations from within the community to cover the cost.
“We very rarely see a project of this magnitude that is organized and funded like this,” said Director of Elizabethton City School Dr. Corey Gardenhour. “The community has come together around that program to make it better and we are so appreciative of their efforts. It’s really a first class facility.”
Head Coach Kenneth Hardin said the athletes began raising money at the end of the season last year and broke ground in July.
They organized the Bluegrass Bash, flip flop fundraiser, and pancake breakfast as well as hosting a junior tournament to raise money. Hardin said they also had some funding leftover from last year and are planning an additional pancake breakfast.
“The girls are working extremely hard to get us there, and they’re very excited,” said Hardin. “The cost is close to $25,000, but we’ve done all the labor ourselves and had several parents and other people come in and help us.”
Gardenhour said numerous residents have shown up offering their skills or equipment.
John Allen, of PMDE Construction, supplied some equipment, and Hardin said he also contributed hours of labor doing grading and digging.
The Carter County Sheriff Dexter Lunceford supplied inmate work crews to provide some of the labor needs.
EHS students built the lockers as a class project under the guidance of Science Technology Engineering and Math teacher David Campbell. Gardenhour recognized the teamwork and educational application of this opportunity for students.
“When we can involve our kids and they can see real results of their work on campus, it reinforces what they’re doing in the curriculum,” he said.
The facility’s four cages are already hung, electrical work is completed, and bathrooms will be added next week. Elizabethton City Schools will connect the water and sewer, but Hardin said they could still use some funding to help finish the bathrooms.
It has outlets and will soon have Internet, so that athletes can do homework between school and practice or games. Hardin hopes the fine tuning will be finished by the first week of January.
Because they begin practice for the Spring season in February, protection from the elements can make a major difference.
“This gives us a completely indoor hitting facility where they can practice defense, pitching and just about anything in there,” said Hardin.
In Hardin’s first season coaching, they built the current batting cage, but due to wear and tear over the years, he said they have had to take it down.
“That facility was minor compared to this, and the weather was still a factor,” he said. “Now we will be able to practice regardless of the weather.”
This facility will also accommodate some travel teams, younger teams and the T.A. Dugger program as well, he said.
“I think the community knows the importance of this sport and wanted to help make it possible,” he said.