⚾ Cane Creek Middle School (CCMS) played their first game last week against Asheville Middle School, but before the first pitch, the evening began with an incredible act of generosity from across the state.
In a moment that underscored the power of community, Sampson Middle School Athletic Director Robert Hill presented a $2,000 check to help Cane Creek’s baseball team recover from the devastation left by Hurricane Helene. The donation, raised through a 50/50 raffle during Sampson’s basketball season, became even more meaningful when the raffle winner donated their half back, doubling the impact.
“We have a saying back home, ‘Dark Horse strong,’” Hill said, referencing Sampson Middle’s mascot. “We always come together to lift each other up, and that spirit doesn’t stop at our own county lines. We’ve seen firsthand what hurricanes can do to a community, and we wanted to do our part.”
Clinton City Schools, located in Sampson County in eastern North Carolina, knows the hardships of storm recovery all too well. The area was battered by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, leaving homes, schools, and athletic facilities underwater. That experience made this act of kindness even more personal, because they understand better than most what it means to rebuild.
For CCMS baseball head coach Mac Anderson, the support has been nothing short of incredible. When Helene’s floodwaters rose, Cane Creek, the very stream the school is named after, destroyed every part of the baseball field except the dugouts.
“This donation is huge for us,” Anderson said. “We’ve made progress since September, but we’re still working to replace essential equipment like pitcher’s screens and game balls. Seeing this kind of generosity from a school we’ve never met before, it’s humbling.”
Principal Andrea Britt echoed that sentiment, emphasizing how much this moment means to the students.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about the kids,” she said. “This is huge for them. After seeing all that devastation, they saw this community come together, and they saw people from the state, nation, and even the world reach out to help.”
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