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Collection of used ball equipment is set Saturday before YSU game
The beneficiary of the collection will be inner-city youths.
CANFIELD — Gary Williams hopes he can kill two birds with one recycling program.
Williams, an assistant Youngstown State University softball coach, is spearheading a collection of used baseball and softball equipment that will help inner-city youths, rather than languish in the back of a closet or be sent to a landfill.
The recycling campaign that Williams spawned reaches its zenith Saturday when the collection of used equipment takes place at McCune Park before YSU’s softball doubleheader against Wright State.
Initially, Williams’ intention was to have the used equipment distributed to the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club. When the new Youngstown Police Athletic League decided to sponsor a baseball/softball league, it was added to Williams’ list.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Williams said of the recycling concept with a specific purpose.
Williams, an assistant YSU softball coach, said he’s thought about implementing such an idea for the past year but never took action until last summer.
“That’s when I talked to Jim Petuch of the Mahoning County Green Team,” the county recycling agency, Williams said. “Then in January, we got serious and started putting the program together.”
Williams said his role with YSU and his involvement with McCune through the Canfield Baseball Club were a perfect fit for carrying out the idea.
“It was perfect time for this because, along with the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club, the YPAL was starting, too.”
The goal, collecting 2,010 pieces, is no arbitrary number; it’s based on Youngstown’s revitalization plan for the year 2010.
“If everybody could give one item that’s stored in their basement or garage, it would be a tremendous success. It could help a kid become a superstar or it could just allow them to have fun.”
The CBC already has pledged 120 helmets, along with catcher’s gear and gloves. Individuals with the Canfield league are also expected to contribute generously.
Although aluminum bats have a limited shelf life for high school and college teams and competitive recreational leagues, that doesn’t mean their condition is unacceptable for general use.
“Most kids grow out of their bats before getting the complete use out of them,” said Tony Vross, a CBC board member.
“Kids have one size and weight for T-ball for a few years, then require a new length before the bat gets a lot of hits on it, anyway,” Vross said of the negligible wear for little league ages.
“For these kids, the bats aren’t really dented, so they’re more than adequate.”
Although wooden bats are more popular now, aluminum is still desirable for the youngsters.
“With the aluminum or composite bats, there’s more spring on the ball, so the small-fry could hit it a little farther and, despite their limited natural strength, get better results,” said Vross.
bassetti@vindy.com