Important Upcoming Dates

As we near the start of our season, here are a few important announcements:

• Monday, 24 February — first scrimmage at San Lorenzo Valley High School
• Friday, 28 February— Varsity season opens at Milpitas Tournament
• Tuesday, 4 March — Varsity at Prospect, JV vs. Prospect at home
• Saturday, 15 March — Annual Wine Tasting Fund Raiser — we need all families to sell tickets!!

Go Cats!!

Field Prep Workers Uncover Commemorative Plaque

When Coach George decided he needed more room to stand behind the pitchers while coaching, it was time to trim the bushes near the bullpen area. And while trimming the bushes and ivy back at Saturday's work party, we discovered a commemorative plaque that had been covered up by the vegetation.

The plaque reads "In Memory of Audrey Helm Mullins Los Gatos Class of 1949."

Who is Audrey Helm Mullins, you ask?

Helm Field and Helm Gym at Los Gatos High School are named after Douglas White Helm, a legendary football, basketball and tennis coach and former principal at Los Gatos High. His daughter was Audrey Helm, who dated and later married her classmate Roy Mullins.

The Mullins had three sons who all attended Los Gatos High School. One of Audrey's grandchildren (daughter of son Dan) played and was a star pitcher for the Los Gatos softball team, graduating in 2004. Melissa pitched for LG Varsity for four years (2000-2004), but Audrey passed away before Melissa's senior year.

Audrey had attended every game Melissa played in from 2000-2003, becoming a fixture in the stands. Coaches Marlo Cortese and Trish Morse wanted to honor Audrey's dedication to the softball program by setting a memorial plaque in her honor at the softball field.

Although inadvertent, we are very happy to have uncovered the plaque and once again make it readily visible to all fans who come to a game.

Thank You LGHS Players and Parents

Thanks to all the LGHS Softball players and parents who attended the annual field cleanup day yesterday. The field looks great. Dugouts are spotless. New home plate, first base and pitcher's rubber installed. Thanks to everyone who attended.

Big Softball Banners  

With an exciting season ahead, the fundraising team has been working hard to get all the pieces in place to support the program. The BANNER program is now ready!

With an “all hands on deck” approach, we hope to sell many great-looking 3’ x 6’ banners which will hang on the fences surrounding the softball field all season in support of our girls. Our sponsors who purchased a banner last year, will have an opportunity to re-hang that banner for a reduced tax-deductible donation, while new sponsors will have the opportunity to create a banner and/or donate in support of key program needs. The “SALES" form is straight-forward with the options, some banner examples, and our contact info to get the orders submitted. In order for the banners to be hung on Opening Day (Tuesday, March 4th) all orders must be turned in by Feb 18th. The receipt document, should be provided to the purchaser for every banner sale, as well as the list of last year’s sponsors.

We are asking every family to participate by selling at least 1 banner or receiving a donation – last year was our “maiden voyage” selling banners and we easily raised more than $5K - LET’S CRUSH THAT by getting started right away! Let me or Suzy Seandel know if you have any questions.

Go 'cats!      e-mail: Corinn Hastings     e-mail: Suzy Seandel

“SALES" form      Receipt      Last Year’s Sponsors

Field Prep Work Day Saturday

We will be holding our annual Field Prep Day at 9 a.m. Saturday, January 18 at the field. We need as many volunteers as we can get — both players and parents. It is our opportunity to get the field and surrounding areas ready for the upcoming season. Not only do we need volunteers, we need your tools as well. Things like rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows, blowers, and anything else you think we can use. At a minimum, I would like to accomplish the following:

• Put up outfield fence
• Put in new first base pegs (this might require some concrete)
• Dig out and put in new pitcher’s rubber and home plate
• Clean out dugouts (sweep/blow, clean off benches)
• Clean up bullpens
• Rake up all leaves around bleachers and power wash bleachers
• Clean out and organize storage areas
• Clean/disinfect refrigerator in storage room
• Test scoreboard and replace all burned out bulbs
• Deep spike drag on infield

The weather is supposed to be nice. Hopefully we will see you there and with enough help we can be all done by noon.

Fwd: Conditioning and Pre-season Clinics

Just a reminder that conditioning will continue through the month of January up until our first practice/tryouts on Monday, 3 February. Cardio conditioning on Mondays and Wednesdays, and weights on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In addition, we can begin our on-field "clinics" starting Monday, Jan. 6. 12 of you have signed up so far.