Nicole June Reporting
njune@clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Clarksville Girls Softball Association (CGSA) celebrated its opening day Saturday, April 5 at Swan Lake Sports Complex with a special surprise for the league’s senior players.
CGSA’s current President, David Baggett, announced a new scholarship in honor of Deputy David “Bubba” Johnson, who was killed in a crash in January.
Johnson was very involved in CGSA, and after he passed his family asked that donations be made to the organization in lieu of flowers.
“It means so much just to carry his name and keep it going,” Baggett said. “Bubba did a lot for this league. He loved softball.”
After receiving the donations, CGSA decided to use the money to set up scholarship funds for seniors to further their education. During the opening ceremony, Johnson’s family gathered on the softball field. His daughter choked back tears as she threw the first pitch to officially open the season.
Baggett said the family was happy for the league receive the donation. “It means a lot to them to see this continue every year,” he said.
The scholarship, known as the Leadership Scholarship, will be awarded to CGSA high school seniors who demonstrate leadership skills both on and off the field. Baggett hopes this will motivate them to be their best. “We want to see how they can lead, like how Bubba was a leader in the community for years,” he said. “They just love it. It’s fun for them and they get to learn something.”
City Councilman Bill Summers, a former softball coach, also addressed the crowd to welcome them to a new season, and shared the story of his daughter, who had played softball but sadly lost her battle with cancer in 2007.
Baggett describes CGSA as an organization which brings the community together and gives girls the chance to not only have fun, but to feel like they have earned something. The league does not participate in many fundraisers, but instead relies on the money from concessions.
For more information about CGSA, visit http://www.eteamz.com/clarksvillegirlssoftball/.