The Brownwood Girls Softball Association kicked off their 2011 season on Thursday with their opening ceremony, but the start of this season has a special meaning for all of the coaches and players. This season opener marked the first official games ever played at Brownwood’s all new Bert V. Massey Sports Complex.
“This is going to be a great time living in Brownwood,” said the association’s Vice President Albert Gomez. “This is history in the making. It is going to be a new generation of girls who actually have the opportunity to play on a real nice complex that the city has provided.”
The new complex located adjacent to the new Camp Bowie Aquatic Center off of Milam Drive offers 12 new baseball/softball fields for a variety age groups. Although finishing touches are being made on some of the fields, three of the four girl’s softball fields were ready to go to start off the season for the local girl’s softball teams.
Brownwood Girls Softball Association president Marcus Sanders said that digital scoreboards are installed at the four girl’s softball fields thanks to contributions of more than $16,000 from Diamond P Enterprises, TexasBank, Citizens National Bank, and Dr. Pepper.
Brownwood Lions head softball coach Amanda Bludworth addressed the teams, parents, and coaches to commemorate the event by talking about the impact girls softball can have on the players.
“My hope and my prayer is that these girls in years can look back and have the same kind of memories that I have as a child playing city league,” Bludworth said. “Being out here, teaching them to compete is teaching them self esteem; things that will not only make them better players, but will help turn them into women.”
Bludworth also offered parents some advice that she often hears from her boss, Athletic Director Bob Shipley.
“Coach Shipley often says this quote and I think it is really good,” Bludworth said. “It says ‘don’t try to prepare the path for your child, but prepare your child for the path.’”
The first games of the season got underway shortly after the opening ceremony with each team looking for a winning season.
The City of Brownwood has invested more than $3.5 million in the new sports complex through funds from the Brownwood Economic Development Corporation along with grants from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund.
The Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce reports that the new sports complex is already drawing attention from around the state with multiple inquires from leagues wanting to bring tournaments to the area.
The City of Brownwood will host a dedication ceremony on May 5th for the new complex along with a ribbon cutting.
Top Photo: Players get excited as their 2011 softball season begins in the new Bert V. Massey Sports Complex.
Marcus Sanders & Albert Gomez present Donnie Ivey of Citizens National Bank a plaque to thank them for their contribution to the scoreboards at the softball fields.
