Taking Names and Keeping Score
They make it happen
Charlie Anderson
For the past two weeks and again this week we have had articles in this paper regarding the annual Thomasville Winter Baseball Clinic. As each of those articles have related in one form or another, this coming Saturday will be the date for the clinic and will mark the 19th time such an event has been held here in Thomasville during the month of January with the inaugural clinic having taken place back in 1990.

As I stated in a column written around the same time last year, the event has steadily grown over the years with approximately 3,200 participants having benefited from what the clinic has had to offer in the way of instruction on the fundamentals of the game of baseball. Also in each of those clinics the participants have been afforded the opportunity to learn these fundamentals from some of the best in the game as well as spend time around some of their heroes as more than 250 different instructors ranging from professional players, coaches and scouts to college coaches and players have willingly given of their time to put on the clinic.

Organizing and putting on an event of this size is not easy and requires a lot of hard work from a dedicated group of volunteers. Thankfully here in Thomasville there are those who see the benefits the young people who participate in clinic receive each year and are committed to see that the program is continued from year to year.

Of course all of their efforts would be in vain if they weren't able to provide the space and facilities to hold such an event. That's where having a cooperative Thomasville City School System and Thomasville Recreation Department comes in as they offer their support for the clinic in many ways including through the use of facilities and other assistance where ever possible.

One of the primary goals of the clinic organizers from day one has been making attendance at the clinic affordable for any young person who is interested in participating. Thus far they have been able to achieve that goal each year with the cost remaining the same $10.00 fee that it was in the beginning. That represents quite a bargain for the participants considering they receive a lunch meal and a free clinic t-shirt as well as the instruction that is provided at the clinic for that small amount. When you look around at all the other baseball clinics and camps that are being conducted in the area as well as across the state there are none of them that offer the level of instruction found here in Thomasville for anywhere close to the same price.

Naturally when one steps back and takes a look at the costs to put on such an event and then does a little math it's not hard to figure out that it can't be done with only the $10.00 registration fees available to cover the cost. But thankfully there is another group who are willing to invest some of their resources in this project to insure that it continues to be available for all the young people who want to attend.

That group is the Major Sponsors and Corporate Sponsors who support the program. This year the Major Sponsors include; Brooks Chevrolet, Burkes Mechanical, Inc., First United Security Bank, McAbee Construction, Inc., McDonald's, North Park Inns & Suites, Pope's Real Estate and Weyerhaeuser. Joining them are the corporate level sponsors A & B Electric, Browder & Sons Veneer, Coca Cola of Leroy, Contract Maintenance, Delmar Restaurant, Dozier Hardware Co., Dozier Oil Co., Edward Jones Investments, Fat Daddy's, The Garden, Gaston's Grill, Hong Kong Buffet, Law Offices of Stuart Dubose, Lewis Pest Control, Louisiana Pacific, Chris McCants- State Farm Insurance, McGraw- Webb Chevrolet, McLean Photography, N& R Sports Cards & Collectibles, Norman Foods, Old Mexico, One Stop Building Supply, Pizza Hut, Pizza Pro, Dr. Terry Pugh, R& B Services, Dr. Jerry Schreiner, Scotch Plywood Co., Sheffield Motors, Dr. Jeffrey Stoudenmire, Thomasville Meat House, The Thomasville Times, Tim Watts Jewelry, Wal- Mart, and Wilson & Drinkard Attorneys.

As I have said so often before, it's great to live in a community and area where everyone seems to be willing to pitch in and do their part to insure that worthwhile projects are done and done right, including events like the Winter Baseball Clinic which are specifically designed to provide opportunities for our young people. Without all of those involved doing their part things like the Winter Baseball Clinic just wouldn't happen.

Until next time……be safe!

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