LEBANON — On Memorial Day night, Kyle Griffin, Jamie Bender and the rest of the town’s little league board stayed up late, staring at their computers and praying to stay in the top ten.
“We were texting each other, e-mailing each other; we were all so nervous,” Bender said.
The board was looking at the Pepsi website, to see where the town’s field project ranked among those being voted on nationwide. The ten projects to receive the most votes would each get $50,000.
“I woke up at 6 a.m. eager and ready to go,” Griffin said. “And then I heard we won and I just lost it.”
The town finished ninth in voting in the Pepsi Refresh project’s Neighborhood’s category for the month of May. The money will be used to build three youth league fields, one for girls softball, one for little league baseball and the last for both.
“What a performance by our whole town and all the many people we managed to network with,” Former Little League President Jeff Walsh said, who originally brought the idea to the board. “Just a great reflection of a community who cares about their kids.”
Voters had to sign up and vote for a specific project, with the top projects receiving money from the soft drink company. People could vote once a day for Lebanon’s Tyler Field project, with the voting lasting until May 31 at midnight.
Months of work
Walsh entered the Tyler Field project in April, and after finishing 25th the first month, it was allowed to compete again in May.
“This was like an extra-inning ball game, and we used all our pitchers,” Walsh said. “When you get in a game like that, you better win. I mean, you put that much effort in already.”
While the actual voting figures have not been announced, Walsh estimated the number at 10,000 to 20,000 a day. The population of Lebanon is just over 7,000.
“We got people from across the country helping us, we got other little league groups, whoever we could,” Bender said. “Whoever was alive and willing to vote, we went to.”
The money will build the three fields and the parking lot. The job could be done by spring depending on how well the grass grows, said Bender.
There is not enough money for dugouts, scoreboards and a concession stand. Walsh said the little league board will continue to search for money to finish the field.
“We were texting each other, e-mailing each other; we were all so nervous,” Bender said.
The board was looking at the Pepsi website, to see where the town’s field project ranked among those being voted on nationwide. The ten projects to receive the most votes would each get $50,000.
“I woke up at 6 a.m. eager and ready to go,” Griffin said. “And then I heard we won and I just lost it.”
The town finished ninth in voting in the Pepsi Refresh project’s Neighborhood’s category for the month of May. The money will be used to build three youth league fields, one for girls softball, one for little league baseball and the last for both.
“What a performance by our whole town and all the many people we managed to network with,” Former Little League President Jeff Walsh said, who originally brought the idea to the board. “Just a great reflection of a community who cares about their kids.”
Voters had to sign up and vote for a specific project, with the top projects receiving money from the soft drink company. People could vote once a day for Lebanon’s Tyler Field project, with the voting lasting until May 31 at midnight.
Months of work
Walsh entered the Tyler Field project in April, and after finishing 25th the first month, it was allowed to compete again in May.
“This was like an extra-inning ball game, and we used all our pitchers,” Walsh said. “When you get in a game like that, you better win. I mean, you put that much effort in already.”
While the actual voting figures have not been announced, Walsh estimated the number at 10,000 to 20,000 a day. The population of Lebanon is just over 7,000.
“We got people from across the country helping us, we got other little league groups, whoever we could,” Bender said. “Whoever was alive and willing to vote, we went to.”
The money will build the three fields and the parking lot. The job could be done by spring depending on how well the grass grows, said Bender.
There is not enough money for dugouts, scoreboards and a concession stand. Walsh said the little league board will continue to search for money to finish the field.
