BY Samantha Lape-Kesel
PENN YAN--Last weekend, the Penn Yan community celebrated the annual Penn Yan youth baseball and softball opening day parade and ceremony. The event was a reflection of the recent accomplishments and a testament to the community’s progress and commitment to youth sports.
According to Erin Marshall-Cunningham, the softball coordinator for Penn Yan youth baseball and softball, and Art Kirk, former vice president of youth baseball and softball, “We have dedicated the past few years to developing a softball field at our facility and promoting gender equality in sports,” Marshall-Cunningham stated. The completed softball field was made possible by grants, including support from the Ralph Wilson Foundation and various youth sports grants.
Marshall-Cunningham and Kirk emphasized that this would not have been possible without help from the Yates County Community and local businesses like the Penn Yan Moose Lodge, Penn Yan Elks Lodge, Knapp & Schlappi Lumber, Vine Country Builders, City Hill Construction, and Staving Artist: Dan Mitchell.
Marshall-Cunningham explained, “The boys have had access to a youth baseball field since the 1950s, which underwent multiple updates over the years. However, the girls never had a proper softball field and were often confined to less-than-ideal spaces.” The annual Penn Yan Youth Baseball and Softball opening day parade and ceremony celebrated these accomplishments, thanked the local businesses, and highlighted the community’s commitment to inclusivity and progress in youth sports.
Several additional projects are underway to improve the facilities for baseball and softball at Penn Yan. These projects include adding a clay infield and installing lights on the softball field, replacing the old light fixtures, and upgrading the lighting system on the baseball field with new LED fixtures.
If you would like to contribute to these improvement projects, you can make donations to Penn Yan Youth Baseball and Softball at PO Box 373, Penn Yan, NY 14527, or via Venmo using the username @PYBaseballandSoftball.
PENN YAN--Last weekend, the Penn Yan community celebrated the annual Penn Yan youth baseball and softball opening day parade and ceremony. The event was a reflection of the recent accomplishments and a testament to the community’s progress and commitment to youth sports.
According to Erin Marshall-Cunningham, the softball coordinator for Penn Yan youth baseball and softball, and Art Kirk, former vice president of youth baseball and softball, “We have dedicated the past few years to developing a softball field at our facility and promoting gender equality in sports,” Marshall-Cunningham stated. The completed softball field was made possible by grants, including support from the Ralph Wilson Foundation and various youth sports grants.
Marshall-Cunningham and Kirk emphasized that this would not have been possible without help from the Yates County Community and local businesses like the Penn Yan Moose Lodge, Penn Yan Elks Lodge, Knapp & Schlappi Lumber, Vine Country Builders, City Hill Construction, and Staving Artist: Dan Mitchell.
Marshall-Cunningham explained, “The boys have had access to a youth baseball field since the 1950s, which underwent multiple updates over the years. However, the girls never had a proper softball field and were often confined to less-than-ideal spaces.” The annual Penn Yan Youth Baseball and Softball opening day parade and ceremony celebrated these accomplishments, thanked the local businesses, and highlighted the community’s commitment to inclusivity and progress in youth sports.
Several additional projects are underway to improve the facilities for baseball and softball at Penn Yan. These projects include adding a clay infield and installing lights on the softball field, replacing the old light fixtures, and upgrading the lighting system on the baseball field with new LED fixtures.
If you would like to contribute to these improvement projects, you can make donations to Penn Yan Youth Baseball and Softball at PO Box 373, Penn Yan, NY 14527, or via Venmo using the username @PYBaseballandSoftball.
