Striking out cancer, one pitch at a time

There were more than one winner at Saturday's, 3rd annual Strike Out Cancer game versus Trinity Valley Community College. Each team decked from head to toe in pink, played for a cure.

    The Texarkana College Bulldogs alone raised $1,656. Surpassing the teams first year by $550, and the second by $800, the team will present the check to the American Cancer Society 12:30 pm Friday.

    "We have sponsors for each inning, if there is a strike out there is a donation of $50 for each one by our pitchers. If there is no strike out we ask for a $50 donation," said Head Coach Leslie Messina.

    Games alone raised $800, with each inning having a sponsor from the community that included: Daughtery Tax Service, Wyrick Dermatology, Domtar Industries, CLB Engineers, TMSI, Texarkana Fastpitch Softball, Absolute Services, Red River Grass Co., GTA Services, Randy's Smokehouse, Tom Sadowski, Senior Respiratory Solutions, Inc., and Texarkana Embroidery who provided the jerseys.

Sophomore Kayleigh Cody took the mound for the first game, raising $400 with 5 strikeouts, with 2 of those in the fifth inning. Sophomore Renee Martin hit an infield single, and then stole second without the next pitch being thrown putting her in scoring position. Freshman Amanda Chriestenson singled to left center, scoring Martin making the game 1-0. Where the Bulldogs held on to the lead and took the win.

     Freshman Brynne Steger walked away with the win in the second game contributing five strikeouts as well. Trinity Valley scored the first run in the top of the 5th, but the Bulldogs had a quick reply with scoring three runs in the bottom of the same inning. Rallying again Trinity Valley scored another run in the top of the 6th trying to close the gap. TC didn't remain quiet answering with another run in the bottom of the 6th to end the game with a 4-2 win. Freshman Morgan Thrash led the Bulldogs with a single and a double with 3 RBIs, out of the twelve hits that game.

    Other additions were raffles that included a Pink Wooden Louisville Slugger bat that was won by Diana Gilmore. The Texarkana College Bookstore also donated Breast Cancer Awareness items, which all together raised $334.

    T-shirts were sold for the first time this year, and it soon became a challenge throughout the community. Texarkana College Cosmetology Department bought twenty-five shirts with Ashdown Softball Booster Club followed with eleven shirts.

"We're just twenty people doing this between coaches and players," said Messina.