Local softball teams come together for a Wednesday doubleheader at Choccolocco Park to Strike Out Childhood Cancer
By Al Muskewitz
OXFORD – When Wendy McKibbin was a young coach there was a player on her team who was battling childhood cancer and she remembers all the challenges that family went through.
Those kinds of experiences tend to stay with you. The Oxford softball coach has had similar experiences several times during her career and each one has been met with a similar amount of compassion.
And it is those experiences that make the Lady Jackets’ participation in Wednesday’s Strike Out Cancer doubleheader on the Signature Softball Field at Choccolocco Park important to her.
“When I was a young coach at Saks we had a player who was diagnosed with childhood cancer and I saw the struggles and tribulations they had to go through,” McKibbin said. “I’ve seen its effect as a professional with a co-worker and I’ve also seen it as a coach with young people.
“Being teachers and educators and coaches, we’re here to serve children, so this is another way we can give back.”
The “Strike Out” campaign is an extension of the Ohatchee-Ragland rivalry that will resume after the Lady Jackets play Pleasant Valley the first game at 4:30 p.m. This year’s benefactor is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
There will be stations inside the ballpark to take donations and fans will be given “I Go To Bat For …” cards similar to those displayed at the MLB All-Star Game to be held during the playing of the national anthem.
It’s the third year in a row Ohatchee and Ragland have designated this game as a fundraiser for a specific cause and the second Oxford has participated.
The first “Strike Out Cancer” game raised $4,000 on behalf of Ragland cancer survivor and Ohatchee graduate Michelle Ford and was donated to Relay for Life. Last year’s games, benefitted relief efforts for the March 25 tornado that hit Ohatchee and raised nearly $9,000 in cash and supplies.
“It’s grown every year,” Ohatchee coach Kendall Poe said. “It’s caught on with the two communities because we’re so close.”
The teams will play five-inning games with free substitutions that will count on their won-loss record. Organizers hope to petition the AHSAA so future games in this particular series won’t affect either team’s record.
“We’re so close in proximity and everybody wants to win the ballgame,” Poe said. “It would take a little bit of pressure away if it’s just about the kids.”
TUESDAY SOFTBALL
Alexandria 4, Moody 2: The Lady Cubs locked up a share of the area title and can clinch Thursday by beating the Lady Blue Devils at home.
Ashley Phillips went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs for Alexandria. Rylee Gattis, Christian Hess and Brie Troup had the Lady Cubs’ other hits. Gattis gave up one earned run over seven innings and struck out 14.
White Plains 10, Jacksonville 0: Leighton Arnold and Jaylee Crow combined on a four-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts. Kristen Rhodes hit a leadoff homer in the sixth and Callie Richardson hit a two-run double later in the inning.
Jacksonville loaded the bases with its first three batters in the home first, then Arnold struck out the side. [*** read more]
