Oct. 27, 2015
By Jon Cooper
The Good Word
Georgia Tech softball has been known to turn Mewborn Field into a scary place for visiting teams yet keeping it a fun place for kids and fans.
However, they usually wait until February to do that.
On Wednesday night, the Jackets will work that same combination, with a slight variation. They’ll keep things fun for kids while adding just a touch of scary, as they turn their home field into a celebration of Halloween, hosting their first ever “Trunk Or Treat.” The festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. and last until 8, and are open to kids in 6th grade and younger.
Parents planning to attend the event can park free of charge in the McCamish Pavilion parking lot.
“We’ve invited a lot of people, kids from all over,” said head coach Shelly Hoerner. “Our players will be at different stations throughout our field, there will be little games at each station, obviously, candy, different Halloween costumes. Our team will be dressed up, [and] our staff will be dressed up.
“It will just be a fun time of little kids enjoying Halloween and experiencing it on the Georgia Tech softball field, which I think will be pretty neat to be able to do,” Hoerner added. “We’re looking forward to it. This is going to be a great way to showcase Georgia Tech softball as well.”
“It’s just to kind of get the Georgia Tech community involved, let them know softball is on campus if they didn’t know before,” said assistant coach Erin Wright, the brainchild of the event, who Hoerner describes as “a Halloween fanatic.” “It’s a great event to just bring the kids and come out, and have a safe and fun Halloween experience. There will be games and candy, and the team will be dressed up and the coaching staff will be dressed up, too. So we’re excited about that.”
The event is one of the team’s October community service projects, and promises to be as much fun for the team as for the kids.
“We are going to be having Halloween games and passing out candy as a softball team to kids in the community,” said senior outfielder Morgan Taylor. “It’s just a great way for us to interact with the kids around the Atlanta area and to kind of just have fun. So we’re pretty excited about that.
“I think the fact that we get to support these great causes and also have fun with it is something that really just makes it rewarding and enjoyable for everybody on the team,” Taylor added. “The most rewarding part is being able to make a difference. I think that’s what makes these events fun for us.”
As part of the fun, the entire team — staff and players — will dress in costumes. Nobody would reveal in advance what their costumes would be.
“I can’t tell you,” said Hoerner, with a laugh. “We have a staff costume but I can’t reveal that until Trunk or Treat. Our team had a Halloween party last year and they all dressed up in great costumes so I know they’ll go all out for it.
“This team, you can tell, really loves working with kids. They’re just really good with kids,” she added. “Anyone that comes out to this event is going to see and have a great time because our players will be all into it. If we can help out kids in the community and then get them to know Georgia Tech softball I think that’s a win-win for both parties.”
Of course, a big crowd also would be beneficial as it would keep her and the team into the event and, more important, out of the candy.
“I’m a sugar-holic,” she said with a laugh. “A lot of our team likes candy and sweets.”
For more information, contact Coach Wright at ewright@athletics.gatech.edu.
