Divas on the Diamond

Friday, Feb. 24, the Clarke softball team, headed up by Coach Lindsay Diehl, hosted the seventh annual Divas on the Diamond to introduce younger girls to the sports program.

“I am far from a diva,” said Coach Diehl, “but it went with ‘Diamond’ so it has stuck.”

Roughly 110 girls attended the event organized by Diehl. Middle and high school softball players, parents and even Diehl’s friends helped with activities and attendees received special shirts that will double as a free pass to home softball games.

“It is so much fun to the help the kids and they absolutely love it,” said player Alexis Carson.

According to Diehl, the best part of the night is watching the middle and high school girls step up and be leaders.

“They are the ones that make the night special,” she said. “I do the softball side of the night with high school softball players and the other 29 kids and volunteers paint nails, make bracelets, keychains and play fun minute-to-win-it games with them. The kids have a blast, and my hope is they want to become a softball player when they grow up.”

Diehl got the idea from a similar program she saw as a student teacher in Indianola. Her first year, 30 children took part. Now?

“I range from 90-130 each year,” said Diehl. “I hope they had a great time!”