Dustin White had a dream of coaching a youth softball team even before he took up residence in the Hillside neighborhood with his wife, Jami.

“It was just something I had always wanted to do,” he said.

White also has had an interest in mentoring youth.

“I think we need to take a stand as adults and help our youth as much as we can,” he said.

After a conversation with friend Ben Wheeler, community liaison for DASH for LaGrange Inc., White said, “We decided to form a neighborhood recreation softball league. We figured it was a shot in the dark. I didn’t know if anyone would respond.”

White found that a number of the youth in the neighborhood had never played recreational sports due to finances, time and basically there was “no one to take them.”

Fliers put out the word of a neighborhood meeting for those interested in forming a league for ages 12 and older.

“The house was packed with people. It was kind of surprising,” White said with a laugh.

Nate Baughman, a resident of Hillside, thought that the softball league was a great idea.

“I see these people in passing, but really hadn’t had a chance to, meet them, talk to them, and this was a great idea,” he said.

Baughman knew only a few people on the team until they met.

Now, he said, “Everything seems to be working out real well.”

On Baughman’s team, the ratio of adults and teens is evenly mixed.

“We’re five and five, so each kid has someone that they can come and talk too,” he said.

Baughman’s wife plays as well.

Vince Portis thought the idea of a softball league, in particular, the opportunity to minister to the youth in the neighborhood was “awesome. Dustin and the others wanted a chance to minister to the kids, and what better a way than through sports.”

Within a few short weeks, the Hillside Neighborhood softball league was formed.

“We just added our fourth team. There is 60 people involved.”

The teams play on Sunday afternoons at the utility field at the college.

Latevious Cotton, 11, had never played softball before joining the league.

“I like all the people that gather around and we have fun,” he said. “I like hitting a homerun.”

Asked if he ever had, Latevious replied no.

“But I would like to,” he said.

O’mare Atcherson, 12, said, “I played T-ball, but haven’t played since I was little.”

He admitted that he “liked running around the bases.”

“We have mixed the adults and kids together, and it gives the adults a chance to mentor the kids and the kids to see some positives,” said White, who has been serving as a coach and player.

“There have been some really cool things happening with it. Our neighborhood has been brought together even more so, and the teams … the opposing teams are cheering each other on.”

“They are building each other up.”

Latevious said that was the best part of playing.

“Having everyone cheer for me hypes me up,” he said.

Teams have had to raise money for shirts and gloves.

“Most of the players don’t have their own gloves or bats, so we are having to find them,” White said.

As for the future of the league, he said: “We’re just trying to stay focused on our goal, and that is to stay positive and provide the kids in the neighborhood something to do and the adults too.”

— To donate softball equipment to the Hillside Neighborhood softball league, call Dustin White at (330) 209-9788.

Becky Holland may be reached at bholland@ lagrangenews.com and (706) 884-7311, Ext. 229