Resilience and Renewal: How a Texas Youth Baseball Complex Bounced Back from Devastating Floods

In the small town of Valley Mills, Texas, a devastating flood in May left the local youth baseball complex in ruins, with thousands of dollars in damage and the loss of crucial equipment. However, through the unwavering support of their community and the generosity of the Texas Rangers Foundation, this resilient organization has managed to not only recover but also emerge stronger than ever.

Restoring Hope and Rebuilding Dreams

Facing the Aftermath of Disaster

The Valley Mills Youth Complex was hit hard by the severe flooding in May, with floodwaters reaching up to six feet high. Justin Owens, the Vice President of the baseball association, recalls the heartbreaking scene, "Everything was ruined, and we ended up losing most of our equipment." The association was left reeling, unsure of how they would recover from such a devastating blow.

Community Rallies to the Rescue

Despite the overwhelming challenges, the Valley Mills community stepped up to support the youth baseball program. The First National Bank of Bosque County provided a significant donation, and other local residents and businesses contributed as well. However, even with these generous donations and insurance coverage, the association still faced a significant financial shortfall.

The Texas Rangers Foundation Lends a Helping Hand

Just when the Valley Mills Youth Complex was struggling to find a way forward, the Texas Rangers Foundation heard about their plight and reached out to offer assistance. Karin Morris, the Executive Director of the foundation, explains their commitment to supporting local baseball programs, "We know that providing resources that offset some of those expenses, then they can go use those funds instead for giving additional kids an opportunity to play or, in this case, fixing the fields that were flooded."

A Transformative Donation and Grant

The Texas Rangers Foundation's support proved to be a game-changer for the Valley Mills Youth Complex. They donated $10,000 to the association, which helped to cover a significant portion of the repair and replacement costs. But the foundation's generosity didn't stop there. Just a few months later, they awarded the association a grant for two brand-new scoreboards, which had been in the works before the flood.

Rebuilding and Renewing the Complex3With the financial support and resources provided by the Texas Rangers Foundation and the local community, the Valley Mills Youth Complex has been able to repair or replace nearly everything that was lost in the flood. Owens shares, "We have two fields that are ready to... have been played on, and working on a third one now. We're a month out from having that completely done and then you know the scoreboards set up with it, so it'll be done by January first or so, we'll be ready to go for the next year."The resilience and determination of the Valley Mills community, combined with the generosity of the Texas Rangers Foundation, have allowed this youth baseball complex to not only recover but to emerge stronger and more equipped than ever before. As Karin Morris eloquently states, "We don't have baseball fans if there's not little kids playing baseball, you know we don't have potential baseball rangers players if there's not opportunities being given to young people to kind of create those dreams and create those memories." The Valley Mills Youth Complex is a shining example of how a community can come together to overcome adversity and ensure that the next generation of baseball players can continue to pursue their dreams.