Bats were swinging and balls were flying when The Goodness of Grifton held its first community softball game last month. Dozens of residents came out and play in and to support the event.
More than 50 people came out to watch the game on June 15, that featured Ed Beiner as the captain of Team A and Tyra Sparrow as the captain for team B.
The event was put together by The Goodness of Grifton, an organization designed to highlight the town's positive aspects, in collaboration with Grifton Baseball League.
Sparrow said organizers wanted to see how the turnout would be for a community softball game.
“We've got two co-ed teams of about 15 players ranging from almost 70 years old to people just out of high school," Sparrow said. "It's pretty awesome for the community to come out and collaborate together."
Cecil Earl Corbett Jr., 68, said that he came out to play a game with his son and his grandchildren.
"It's been 20 years since I played softball," said Corbett. "They said that I couldn't do it. I told them I could do it if I wanted to do it and I'm keeping up with them. too."
Wayne Hardy said that he ran the league in Grifton for 15 years, and he came from Ayden to watch the game with his family and support the event.
“I have a daughter that's a former college and World Series softball player and I came out to watch her play,” said Hardy. “Supporting events like this is great for getting the kids out of the house, to keep the program going, and to teach them some sports.”
Janie Spikes of Grifton came out prepared for the heat with her lawn chair and umbrella to enjoy the game.
“We're here today to join with our parents and local baseball team, and my daughter's pitching and playing,” said Spikes. “Grifton is a small town and a good community, and we all love to come together when it comes to things like this.”
Beiner said he and Sparrow talked about doing this as one of their community events and as a Grifton Little League fundraiser. All proceeds collected from the concession sales will support the league.
“My sweet husband is serving up hot dogs at the concession stand along with Christy Ennis, the wife of the new president of the Grifton Baseball League, Derek Ennis," Sparrow said. "His whole family will be involved in moving forward with the Grifton Baseball League."
Spectators said each team played their hearts out and seemed to really enjoy the sports challenge, playing two six-inning games.
May 26 was the one-year anniversary of The Goodness of Grifton, which has a Facebook page with over 1,000 people members. Beiner said that the page was created to spotlight all the good things about the community.
“We started last year with Tyra, myself, my wife Crystal, and Commissioner Jesse Daigneault who’s not an administrator on it, but she helps us with it and community events,” said Beiner. “We just made the page to bring positivity in the community because there's been so much negativity. Through the page we've had a couple of community movie nights, community clean-ups and now we're bringing the community softball games.”
Sparrow said the organization "was made to kind of balance the negativity in town" from another group's Facebook page.
"Actions speak louder than words, so we try to get together and do things as a community giving people the opportunity to come out and be positive instead of having something negative to say behind the computer screen all the time."
Beiner said they hope the positive energy shown in this game will lead to good feedback, and he hopes The Goodness of Grifton will host another game another this month.
“I also wouldn't mind if this can grow into a place where maybe we can get a community team for the adults to go play in Ayden, Winterville, or Greenville,” said Beiner. “We'd have to sign up and make a team, but that's kind of an idea floating in the back of my head for maybe 2025.”
Residents who like to participate in the next Goodness of Grifton Community softball game check the Facebook page for updates.
Pic 1. 68-year-old Cecil Earl Corbett Jr. stepped up to the plate for his first bat.
Pic 2. Christy Ennis and Matt Sparrow serving up hot dogs and refreshments with all concession proceeds donated to Grifton Little League.
Pic 3. Janie Spikes with her family enjoying the Community softball game.
Pic 4. Group pic of the players
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