Towards the end of the 2013 softball season, Vernon Louk, assistant softball coach at Bridgeport Middle School (BMS), had an idea to form a softball clinic for girls ages 6-11.  At that time, he contacted several Harrison County softball coaches to determine their interest is supporting such an endeavor.  The results were very positive.

 

On February 13, 2014, the annual spring sports meeting for coaches was held at Robert C. Byrd High School (RCB).  At the softball meeting, Coach Louk met with area softball coaches to see if they were still interested in this matter.  Once again, their support was positive.

 

Coach Louk then met with John Ebert, owner of local area McDonalds, and members of his staff to gain their support for sponsoring a softball clinic.  Mr. Ebert and staff were highly interested in getting this effort off the ground.  With the support of area coaches and McDonalds, the date for the clinic was set for Saturday, April 12, 2014, at BMS.

 

On Saturday, over 40 girls came to BMS with gloves, bats, helmets, and batting gloves to participate in the first McDonalds Softball Clinic.  Each participant was paired up with a partner who plays softball for an area school.  Coaches and a total of 48 players from BMS, Bridgeport High School, Grafton High School, South Harrison Middle School, South Harrison High School, and RCB, as well as several adults, provided assistance and guidance to the clinic’s participants.  The girls were shown how to properly warm-up prior to the start of a softball game and given hands-on instruction on fielding (infield and outfield), base running, and hitting.

 

Coach Louk was heard to say that he did not sleep well Friday night in anticipation of the softball clinic.  He need not worry anymore, it was a success and it appears that this will become an annual event.  One young girl was overheard saying to her parents, “What time do we come back next week for this?”

 

At the end of the softball clinic, each participant received a certificate for an extra value meal at McDonalds.