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Catoosa Children’s Fund gears up for first-ever High School Baseball Classic

From left are Heritage Generals Baseball players pitcher/first baseman Cole Wilcox and shortstop Noah Hill with head baseball coach Eric Beagles, and Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School head baseball coach Johnny Burch with LFO shortstop Dylan Hughes and pitcher/left fielder Hadyn Griffin. From left are Heritage Generals Baseball players pitcher/first baseman Cole Wilcox and shortstop Noah Hill with head baseball coach Eric Beagles, and Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School head baseball coach Johnny Burch with LFO shortstop Dylan Hughes and pitcher/left fielder Hadyn Griffin.

By Katie Ward February 24, 2016 4 min read

Dr. Lamar Brown

If you go

* Noon: LFO vs. Southeast Whitfield High* 2:30 p.m. Heritage High vs. Gordon Lee HighTickets are $5 and can be purchased at Catoosa County Public Schools Central Office, LFO High School, Heritage High School, the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office, First Volunteer Bank in Catoosa County and Legendairy Ice Cream and Coffee in Ringgold.

About the fund

In 1987 a local businessman saw a special on TV about underprivileged children in another country. He wanted to help children in Catoosa County and asked the Catoosa County Board of Education to help establish a fund. In 1988, the new board members set a goal of 1,000 people who would pledge $52 per year to generate income for the fund. It worked. Gaining enough support to branch out from short-term needs to scholarships, the fund now also supports a summer camp which sponsors about 120 children every summer, providing them with transportation, food, field trips and swimming.

Standouts

Local high school standouts playing in the games:* Heritage’s Cole Wilcox will play baseball at the University of Georgia in the fall.* Heritage’s Dylan Bice will play at East Tennessee State University in the fall.* Gordon Lee’s Tucker Bradley will play at Auburn University in the fall.* Gordon Lee’s Sean Coakley will play at Cleveland State in the fall.* Gordon Lee’s Chaney Rogers will play at the University of Georgia in the fall.

Catoosa County Children’s Fund representatives hope the nonprofit’s first-ever High School Baseball Classic will hit a home run March 5 at AT&T Field.

Athletes from four area schools will take the Chattanooga Lookouts’ field that day to play for a worthy cause that helps fellow students in Catoosa County in need. The Children’s Fund offers help to Catoosa County Schools students and their families with short-term needs such as food, clothing, shelter, dental and medical care, educational related supplies or fees, or short-term emergency needs.

“Our goal is to raise $10,000 for the Catoosa County Children’s Fund,” said Catoosa County Schools Student Services Director Dr. Lamar Brown. “That should help 80 to 100 children.”

Gates open at 11 a.m. The first game is Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School versus Southeast Whitfield High School. The second game is Heritage High School versus Gordon Lee High School.

“Gordon Lee has been to the state finals two years in a row. We are lucky to have them with us, and it should be a great matchup, too,” Dr. Brown said. “Heritage went to the playoffs last year and was defeated by Buford. LFO went to the playoffs in 2012.”

He originally approached former Lookouts assistant manager Harold Craw – who is a former Notre Dame High School football player that Dr. Brown coached – to ask if the Lookouts could host the fundraiser.

“We usually spend $30,000 of the fund helping students in a school year,” said Catoosa County school social worker Sue Mason. “That’s why we hope this fund is a success. We help with power bills, shelter for the families, clothing, shoes, emergency medical and eyeglasses. We give two scholarships at Ringgold High School, two at LFO High School, two at Heritage High School and one at the Performance Learning Center annually.”

Heritage High School head baseball coach Eric Beagles said he’s looking forward to supporting such a worthy cause.

“We are fortunate that Dr. Lamar Brown has used athletics to tie together and support the Children’s Fund,” he said.

Heritage High School pitcher/first baseman Cole Wilcox said it’s exciting to be able to play for a worthy cause because it’s a win-win.

“It’s a great opportunity to play in one of the great Minor League stadiums,” added Heritage shortstop Noah Hill.

LFO shortstop Dylan Hughes said it will be a fun day playing in a fun environment.

“The event is a great way for the LFO players to play at a beautiful facility and an opportunity they won’t get again,” said head baseball coach Johnny Burch. “The cause itself is very admirable. Being able to use the athletes as representatives of the school system and build awareness we hope we can help the fund going forward.

“Dr. Brown talked about making this a yearly thing, and we want to help in any way we can.”