COMMENTARY: Community stepped up again in time of need

Jun. 10, 2007

NICK MCQUEEN

Commentary

As if it wasn’t difficult enough for 27th-year Hays Larks manager Frank Leo and Co. to put a quality product on the field, the Larks had to deal with the doubt of not having a program at all this summer.

Kudos to those who made it possible, and to those who would like to keep it going.

The support shown for Hays’ summer collegiate baseball team has been phenomenal and it’s a good sign of things to come as the Larks are seemingly becoming a household name in Hays — and not just a summertime activity that seemed, up to this point, a hidden (or forgotten) treasure.

In true “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone” fashion, Hays and its surrounding communities stepped up to the plate to help out the Larks and the Hays Baseball Association when they needed it the most and the response has been above and beyond the liking of the HBA and Larks baseball.

Membership in the newly renovated Larks’ Diamond Club is at an all-time high since its conception in 2004. As it always has been, attending a Larks game is completely free thanks to the generous donation of businesses around town, which have been more than willing to help out. And, the awareness of Larks baseball seems to be growing each day.

Perhaps the most amazing of all this support, though, is shown in the form of the newest addition to Hays baseball. No longer should it be a problem for the Larks to take the classy brand of baseball they show at Larks Park to the road — thanks to the generous donation of several businesses and individuals that went to bat.

Ron Nelson was among these contributors and was summoned the task of acquiring the money.

“We decided it would be better if we had a specific goal so we went after money for transportation, rather than just giving money,” Nelson said. “We talked about a bus and decided that would be a good idea — a lot better than having to rent transportation each time.”

Several years ago, the Larks’ bus was retired after the program had to keep spending money on repairs. Since, the team has been forced to rent transportation. While expensive, it also put a burden on organization. Just getting the team where it was going proved to be a monotonous task.

“Things are easier to schedule, and we don’t have to worry about paying by the mile and the everyone is comfortable,” said Leo, whose team is in the middle of its inaugural trip on the bus this weekend in Joplin, Mo. “It’s not your modern-day 2007 bus, but it gets us where were going and that’s the important thing.”

Transportation supporters donated anywhere from $500 to $5,000 to help make the purchase possible. The bus, while retro in style, will no doubt help with the grind of a 48-game Jayhawk League schedule. Twenty-four of those games will be played on the road. After this weekend’s five-day road swing, Hays will make two more similar runs in June alone, before spending the bulk of July on its home field.

“When it’s your own bus, it does make things a little bit easier,” Leo said. “You don’t feel uncomfortable making a few side trips or inconveniencing anyone if you need to do something.”

The way people have responded to the need, it would seem the Larks are not anywhere near an inconvenience, but a highly valued entity of Hays’ small-town charm.

“It’s really a great thing to be a part of. Hays has a lot of good people in it, that’s for sure,” Nelson said. “All the people involved just wanted to help save the Larks and help save the baseball program for the kids. It’s just a great deal.”

The initial steps have been taken to help ensure the future of the quality brand of baseball known as the Larks. It’s up to the people to keep climbing that ladder in years to come.