Main Street News

The Pine Plains Varsity Softball Team is currently fundraising for spring training. The team will be sending 18 players to Myrtle Beach, SC, for spring training at the Cal Ripken Experience in March of 2024. While there, the team will not only be training, but also competing. 

Spring training at the Cal Ripken Experience provides state of the art facilities and professional replica fields, flexible practice and game schedules, unlimited access to training areas, and lodging accommodations, among others. 

“This early season work will hopefully pay off for this very young team, as they have a very demanding varsity season scheduled,” said Amy Baden, who is one of the fundraising organizers for the softball team.

The team, along with their coaches and parents, will be raising money for the trip in various ways throughout the next few months. 

The team will be taking donations, which will benefit the Pine Plains Varsity Softball team 100% and be placed in a Bomber Booster account, and they will also be accepting sponsorships. All sponsorships will receive their name on the team workout shirts and on a team banner, which will be displayed during all games in Myrtle Beach and at the home field during the 2024 season. 

They are also currently selling Pine Plains Bombers golf umbrellas at this link, which is particularly appropriate given all the rain we’ve been getting in the region lately.

While the plans are not yet finalized, they also plan on selling softball apparel. All pricing and ordering methods will be available on their social media pages when they are ready to begin. Any inquiries can be sent to Corinna Burton (c.burton@ppcsd.org), who will be spearheading this fundraiser. 

In the next few months, they will be hosting other holiday events including a holiday pie sale and perhaps even a New Year’s Eve event. 

The Pine Plains Varsity Softball team has quite a decorated history. The team was the Section 9 Class C champ for five consecutive years, until they were dethroned by S.S. Seward in 2022. They have a history of winning titles with a young team, and they hope that this season will follow that trend. 

Additionally, their coach, Lester Funk, has an impressive record himself. With 300 wins so far and no indication of slowing down any time soon, Funk will certainly be coaching and encouraging his team to perform at a high caliber to add to that record. 

You can keep up with the Pine Plains Varsity Softball Team at their Facebook page, Pine Plains Softball, or on Instagram at @pineplainssoftball24, for updates on their upcoming events.