Philip Sparn | ClarksvilleNow.com
psparn@ClarksvilleNow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — The Clarksville Nationals Girls Softball League honored several key donors and presented a special scholarship to the Watson family at their annual opening ceremonies Friday night at Mericourt Park.
The opening ceremonies officially kicked off the 2014 softball season but the highlight of the night was when the Clarksville Nationals presented a $1,000 scholarship to Chad and Kylie Watson, the only surviving members of a Muhlenberg County, Ky family that was recently devastated by a tragic house fire, which took the lives of nine family members in January.
“$1,000 dollars is not a lot, but hopefully it showed the Watson family that we all care about them and our hearts go out to them,” said Michael Blackwell, president of the Clarksville Nationals Softball League. “Hopefully, it will help them in their healing process.”
Blackwell announced that the Clarksville Nationals Girls Softball League is dedicating the 2014 season to Chad Watson and his family.
The softball league is also embracing the hashtag #WatsonStrong and the theme “We’re more than just softball,” in memory of the Watson family and their strength.
At the opening ceremony, the Clarksville Nationals also honored the donors that helped build a $100,000 state of the art sports complex that includes a concession stand, board room, restrooms and a public address system. The facilities are a big upgrade from the soda stand and portable restrooms the 23-team league used in previous years.
Derek Comperry, owner of Comperry Construction, was honored for helping build the stand and donating the labor for the construction of the complex. James Corlew, owner of James Corlew Chevrolet and Cadillac, was also honored for donating more than $10,000 dollars to help build the new softball complex.
“It sounded like a great project, so I wanted to help Mr. Comperry get it done,” said Corlew. “Getting an opportunity to see these kids enjoy the new facilities and be happy is the main reason I wanted to help Dereck build the new complex.”
The complex’s materials and construction were completely donated by multiple members of the community, including Comperry and Corlew.
“Its amazing … We now have one of the nicest softball facilities in Montgomery County,” said Blackwell. “And, It has all been bought and paid for by volunteers and donations.”
The new sports complex and concession stand is also equipped with cameras and internet that live streams the games for parents that cannot attend the games.
Erin Lackey, threw the ceremonial first pitch and give a special speech to her father Brian Lackey who was watching the opening ceremonies, via the live-stream, while he is deployed in Afghanistan.
For more information about the softball league, visit the Clarksville Nationals Girls Softball League website here.
Photos by Philip Sparn | Clarksvillenow.com