On Aug. 26, the Lady Bisons softball team traveled to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to provide aide to individuals affected by the recent flood.
Softball player Morgan Acosta and head coach Phil Berry led the team as they worked with Acosta’s hometown congregation in order to complete relief efforts.
“When we got to a neighborhood that was affected, we saw everyone’s life possessions sitting on the curb,” Berry said. “It looked like a war zone; everything piled up in rubble. That’s when we realized that a week before, everything was normal. Now these people face the difficulty of rebuilding their physical lives. The reality really set in for us. You can see pictures of devastation, but when you can actually touch it and look at it up close and personal, there is no question that it impacts you.”
According to senior catcher Kimmy Hendricks, the team gutted and stripped a total of four homes. One of the homes Hendricks worked on was previously submerged in over eight-feet of water.
“We were told the first day that we were going to be worn out, not just physically, but emotionally, and that was right,” Hendricks said. “It was more than physical; it was something we had to set our minds to.”
According to Acosta, this was the team’s first bonding experience of the year.
“We learned very quickly how much work we could get done when we all came together,” Acosta said. “It showed me what we are capable of as a team.”
According to assistant coach Chanin Naudin, the team went into the trip unsure of what their tasks would be.
“The team’s spirit was so positive,” Naudin said. “It just shows how great they are, that they are willing to spend their entire weekend going to help others.”
According to Berry, the time spent helping in Louisiana had a positive impact on both the community and his players.
“This university promotes athletics as a vehicle for service, in addition to what we do on the field,” Berry said. “It goes without saying that our entire athletic department values serving in the community; we saw this as an opportunity to do just that. I do not think there is any question that we grew as a team. It seems like when you do a service project, you get more out of it than the people you serve, and that was certainly the case for us.”
