League takes over Landis softball

Cline

Lex Graham

Lusk

Rollins

By Shavonne Potts

spotts@salisburypost.com

LANDIS —A group of parents and grandparents stepped up to the plate so to speak to continue with the ball programs after the town decided to end them.

The town board had decided to eliminate the recreation program for the second time in several years, but instead reduced and reorganized considerably.

The group, the Southern Rowan Sports League, has been working for months setting up a board of commissioners, nonprofit status and state registration.

“We keep it going for the kids,” said Francis Lusk, vice president of softball.

Board Commissioner Jamie Rollins said the town and the league are two separate entities.

The town agreed to pay the utilities and the league buys and provides all necessary equipment, secures team sponsors, establishes league schedules, has all coaches and volunteers undergo background checks.

“We are using their fields,” Rollins said.

Mayor Dennis Brown has said this is what the town had always envisioned, an outside group taking on the project.

“In essence, we both got what we wanted and that’s what’s good for the children,” said league President Lex Graham.

The group agreed the town has been supportive.

“I told them they will have a product they would be proud of,” he said.

Graham said this is what he grew up doing, playing ball with Rowan Little League. He is a retired educator.

“This is good for me,” he said.

There will be a sponsor day Sept. 4 at Graham and Corriher fields where families and the community are invited to attend. Each team will play a drop game.

“We want to get people out to support the kids,” said Susan Cline, treasurer.

She added that when parents and the community get involved, then the league can be more successful.

There will be skills/draft day Aug. 28. All experience levels are welcome as are players from any of the surrounding towns.

The first league game is set for Sept. 13.

The registration fee is $50 per child. Registration is continuing every Saturday from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. and Thursday from 5 p.m.-8 p.m.

Complete registration dates can be found on the league’s website.

The league is still looking for sponsors to include single, double, triple, home run and grand slam for $100 to $500 cost, with benefits that include listing on the website sponsor’s page, a banner on the field and the business name on all T-shirts.

“We want it to be a process, not an event — a process takes time, events come and go,” Graham said.

The league intends to carry out the motto: where kids have a ball.

“It’s about having fun and everybody working together,” Graham said.

For more information contact the Southern Rowan Sports League at www.southernrowansportsleague.com or 704-855-8362.