PIFBS Disaster Relief Fund

While there unfortunately does not seem to be a shortage with weather and natural disasters, Pitch In For Baseball & Softball has not received many equipment grant applications from communities impacted by a natural disaster this year to date. However, PIFBS did receive and process one Disaster Relief application from Indian Lake Ball Association in Ohio.

On March 14, 2024 at approximately 7:30pm an F3 tornado ripped through the small area of Indian Lake. A close-knit community comprised of residents residing in Lakeview, Russells Point, Huntsville and Lewistown. It came in with the strength to completely level hundreds of homes and cause great destruction to hundreds more. Unfortunately, our 2 fields in Lakeview did not survive the damage. Indian Lake was in the direct path of this 1/2 mile wide monster that stayed on the ground for just over 30 miles. What the league lost was small in comparison to the 3 people who died and the countless children who feared for their lives and are now traumatized by something as simple as dark skies. But what the losses affect those children too. Those fields had lights that we used for night games and a fully stocked concession and equipment room. They are now completely demolished and being used as a dumping and shredding site for tornado debris. While they do have other fields to use, two of the locations will require a complete restocking of concessions and equipment.

The entire building that housed  concessions and equipment room was blown away. Literally not even a wall standing. Indian Lake lost all of their equipment, totaling more than $15,000. Pitch In For Baseball & Softball provided a grant to help rebuild the league so that the kids could still have a semblance of a spring season.

Their report will be due over the summer and we will be sure to provide an update!