January's torrential rains caused major flooding from Grant's Creek onto Catawba's athletic complex, including Whitley Softball Field and Frock Fields. To get the fields in shape for play, members of Catawba's Softball Team spent most of their free time during the week of January 25 on the field, not playing, but cleaning up.
Led by their team coaching staff, the women shoveled dirt, and raked rocks and debris. Team members even used a hand pump to bucket water off the field. They also spent time cleaning debris, including sticks, grass and dead fish, left by the floodwaters away from the field fencings. Their efforts filled the back of a college pickup truck. All of their work was in preparation for the delivery of new infield dirt that arrived late in the week.
"We have to commend our young ladies," said Catawba's Softball Coach Nan Whitley. "We didn't have to harp on them to come down there — they wanted to be there. The seniors, especially, wanted to get the field into shape so they can play the home opener of the season on their field. The young ladies deserve a lot of credit for all their effort — it goes over and above what is expected. Hard work like this is one of the best team-bonding activities we've ever done."
The team's home opener is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 against Glenville State of West Virginia.
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