To The Editor:

The undersigned want to express our support for the Lincoln Parish School Board’s proposal to restore the Ruston High softball team’s old home field on Bittersweet Avenue to its former glory.

We are softball players from the RHS 2007 state championship team, and we believe the RHS softball team deserves its own, dedicated facility, on par with what the baseball team has, to provide comparable and equal access to all RHS sports programs.

Today, softball is the only RHS team sport that doesn’t have unlimited access to its facilities for practices and games, and that puts the team at a competitive disadvantage against other 5A schools. This may also raise Title IX legal compliance questions.

Providing RHS Softball with its own field would create a true sense of ownership and pride – this is, after all, the field where RHS softball won a state championship – and allow the team to build a strong and lasting culture and team identity.

The proposed improvements – a new backstop, new scoreboard, turf the field and batting cage, dressing rooms and parking, and maybe even a student section in the stands – would put softball on par with what other RHS teams have, and with our competition. RHS softball wants to leave a proud legacy, and that starts with the team having its own facility where they can walk onto their field whenever they need to.

Please support RHS Softball by leveling the playing fields for everyone and voting yes on the bond proposal on April 27. It’s the right thing to do.

Sincerely, 

Kadie Williams Claborn
Elyse Smith Mills
Jodi Albritton Serpas
Laquisha Woods Tidwell

---