Local businesses make KMS project possible
By Joan Janzen
joanjanzen@yahoo.com
Six new batting cages were recently erected in Kindersley, thanks to the generous donations of supplies and services from local businesses and volunteers. All their efforts were joined together to help out Kindersley Minor Sports.
Dennis’ Welding welded the frames made of pipe and connectors that ISH Energy and D-now had contributed. Once the welding was completed, Big Rack Vac came out to wash the newly constructed batting cage frames. TKC Trucking and Picker Service came with their picker and set cages in position at Supreme Source for Sports Field and Flanagan Field.
Other work was made possible with the help of Crossfire Directional Drilling, who came out with their picker and truck and trailer unit. They picked up and set in place cement blocks so that the shale containment could be moved to its new location. KCG Concrete generously donated the cement blocks.
Next, the frames also needed to be painted, filled with shale and nets, which was no small endeavour. The Kindersley Co-op donated the chain, quick links and snap links for each of the net’s 60 separate hanging locations, after which a crew of volunteers came in to hang the netting and place the batters’ box mats and the Z screens in the cages. The Z screen is a great invention that can be used for both softball and baseball pitching. Its reversible “Z” shape accommodates both left and right-handed throwers.
Many of the volunteers who offered to help didn’t have Minor Ball volunteer hours to work off or had already worked off their volunteer hours for the season and were putting in extra volunteer hours. It indeed was a dedicated crew of volunteers.
Apex Distribution brought their skid steer in to clear the loose dirt from the area at Lynco Hot Oilers Field and Longhorn Oil and Gas Field and then started the process of filling the cages with shale. The Town of Kindersley brought in their grader and sloped the area.
All these local businesses pulled together and made this project possible by donating their services and equipment. After the work was completed, total donations coming in towards this project ranged somewhere between $40,000 to $50,000!
