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Karrh Park to Become State of the Art Fast Pitch Complex
This grant will enable us to transform a sound but declining facility into a state of the art fast pitch softball complex for the girls of Texarkana and the surrounding communities, says Debbie Alexander, league secretary/treasurer. With these improvements, we will be able to better prepare the young female athletes of our area for competition at the state, regional and national level as well as participation in fast pitch softball programs in high school, college and beyond.
Texarkana Independent Youth Softball League has been in existence since 1992 as a non-profit organization operated exclusively to provide healthy, competitive, sportsmanlike play and to teach the fundamentals of softball to the youth of the greater Texarkana community. In the past year, TIYSL has evolved into a leader in the development of competitive fast pitch softball programs in the four states area. This past fall, TIYSL hosted 31 teams for league and tournament play. Teams participated not only from Texarkana but also from Ashdown, Hope, Nashville and Prescott, Arkansas; Atlanta, Canton, Dekalb, Deport, Hooks, Linden, Longview, Marshall, Maud, Mount Pleasant, Mount Vernon, New Boston, Queen City, Simms and Wake Village, Texas as well as Broken Bow, Oklahoma.
Having four regulation fast pitch fields in one location will be a great asset to Texarkana becoming a major fast pitch hub. The Baseball Tomorrow Fund Grant will enable Karrh Park to become the first complex in the four states area to be entirely geared for fast pitch softball. Finally, the girls will have a home complex which can draw state and national tournaments, adds Alexander. Kevin Blaskowski, head coach at Southern Arkansas University, has already committed to moving the Great Southern Conference/Lone Star Conference Shootout Tournament to Karrh Park in February 2002. Plans are also underway for TIYSL to host the 14 & under and 18 & under divisions of the Texas USSSA State Tournament at Karrh Park in the summer of 2002.
Without the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, we would not be able to fund a project of this scope, says Alexander. With these funds, an entire generation of young female athletes will not have to miss out on opportunities while waiting for money to be raised to make these much needed improvements. It is nice to know that Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association recognize that girls are athletes as well as fans of Americas greatest game. There is still a lot of work to be done and teams are always needing sponsors. Anyone interested in playing, coaching, umpiring, sponsoring or just lending a helping hand can contact TIYSL by phone: 903/794-BALL(2255), email: texarkanafastpitch@hotmail.com or by writing: P. O. Box 7012, Texarkana, TX 75505.
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