Driving baseball dreams

Stacy Ashcroft took her first “driving test” with the West Plains Little League by becoming a board member a decade ago in 2015.

By 2017, the keys to the car were in her hand, and Ashcroft was at the wheel as the organization's president and traveling new roads.

"We do not regularly do fundraising, but after last year our board is getting a little bit more active and we're getting more ideas flowing," Ashcroft said.

The effort to raise at least $8,000 — but more is always welcome — will fund a variety of field improvements, all dependent on the final tally.

The campaign comes as Little League baseball might take a back seat to football, or Major League Baseball playoffs. It will be fueled by activities such as a 50/50 Raffle, hitting derby and a hit-a-thon.

Those interested can visit westplainslittleleague.com to learn how to participate. The goals are new permanent fencing, better fields and storage facilities.

"We have enough money to comfortably run a season with our sponsorship dollars and our registration fees," Ascroft explained. There is, however, "A pretty big desire to upgrade our fields," she added.

The desire for improvements come from WPLL teams and parents traveling across the state.

"The more people go off to state tournaments and see facilities in other parts of the state, the more people are like, 'Man, we gotta, we gotta invest in our fields,'" Ashcroft said.

While the 'want-to' always exists, it's the 'how-to' that is the challenge.

Aside from the monetary side, WPLL's fields belong to the city of Cheney.

"They're just not in a place right now to really even think about ball fields," Ashcroft said.

That said, WPLL will see how the money comes in and then approach City Hall with their plan.

Permanent fencing and the storage sheds will make life much easier for the all-volunteer run organization.

When WPLL hosts tournaments like they did this past summer for District 13 baseball and softball for a variety of age groups.

Games at Salnave required temporary fences to be installed, public address systems.

"A good experience would be unlocking the (shed) door and flipping a switch as opposed to hauling over the sound system and stringing extension cords," Ashcroft said.

While fencing is likely still in the future, improved fields can transpire by 2025, Ashcroft said.

"I think the fencing would be one of the more expensive projects," Ashcroft explained. "I doubt we could accomplish that fully, within that goal, but we might be able to do the basic field improvements and and maybe get one of the storage facilities."

Founded in 2004, the WPLL turns 21 in 2025. It serves over 650 youth across western Spokane County in Cheney, Medical Lake, Airway Heights, Reardan,

Davenport and Spangle.

Ashcroft's involvement began as would be expected through being a parent. She's watched two sons — Tyler (19) and Austin (14) — as well as daughter Mia, a senior at Cheney High climb the WPLL ladder since 2010.

Husband Josh has coached along the way, too, even Mia who chose to play baseball rather than softball in order to learn the basics that she uses as a Blackhawks' fast-pitch player.

As a stay-at-home mother and home schooler, Ashcroft has the flexible schedule by which to stay engaged with the inner runnings of WPLL.

That availability has allowed her time to help build the infrastructure of the organization that now boasts a fully-staffed board of directors.

"We have a really solid board and this whole fundraising effort actually came from another board member and that was super encouraging," Ashcroft said.

Usually one person will probably carry three or four different jobs, Ashcroft said.

Ashcroft began to earn her volunteer stripes having been raised in the small town Waitsburg, Wash. near Walla Walla.

She was later mentored by an original WPLL founder, Adam Smith, who after seeing his kids migrate through the program transitioned away.

Ashcroft's first duties as a board member were to handle sponsorships. And then as president do what might be called 'cosmetic surgery' to repair a variety of dings and dents in relationships.

That has allowed West Plains Little League to become a more efficient and member-serving organization that has both expanded its footprint and impact on area youth baseball.

Ashcroft somewhat reluctantly accepts the idea that, "I am probably the driving force."