By Jed Blackwell/The Spartanburg Sports Report
The Dorman softball team recently reached an important milestone – and it had nothing to do with anything happening on the field.
For the past four seasons the Lady Cavaliers have made a concentrated effort to raise funds for the Carolina Miracle League, with a lofty goal of donating $10,000 to the organization in that four-year period. Through individual efforts and T-shirt sales, the team passed that goal in March and donated the Miracle League before a home game against Gaffney.
Dorman coach Kim Hames has a long history of working with the Miracle League and said raising funds for the organization was a natural extension of that.
“While I was a student at USC Upstate I was involved with a student organization that was connected with the Miracle League and had my first volunteering opportunity through them,” Hames said. “I instantly fell in love with the league and the athletes and since then I have always had a special place in my heart for them.”
Hames said the team took it upon themselves to pass the $10,000 goal that was set.
“They made it happen because it is important to them,” she said. “All of our kids have gone above and beyond selling their 10 shirts each year. We have had one individual athlete sell up to 105 shirts alone. I think when they ask people to purchase a shirt and donate to the cause the buyer can tell by the way they talk that it’s special to them and therefore more people are always willing to give and support.”
Hames is understandably proud of her team for their effort.
“I am just so proud of them and what makes me most proud is that they have come to know and understand that being athletes is about more than winning and losing games. It gives them a platform on which they have the opportunity to do bigger things like impacting the lives of kids like those in the CML. That right there makes being their coach all worth it.”
