Clinic raises money, spirits

Photo by Steve Saenz Current Ohio State and former Barstow High softball player Whitney Cooper watches as Hannah Ulibarri fields the ball during the softball clinic Saturday at Lillian Park. Cooper earned the Buckeye Spirit Award during her freshman year and will be playing.

Thank you Whitney and Amy for remembering where you came from and giving back to the community of Barstow. Joe

By DAVID HELDRETH Staff Writer BARSTOW — Amy Thomas and Whitney Cooper are role models to Jessica Donovan. Donovan witnessed the two former Barstow High School softball players advance to the finals of the CIF-Southern Section playoffs in 2004. More than three years after that playoff run, Thomas and Cooper coached Donovan at Lillian Park for a softball clinic on Saturday. Amy’s sister, Candice, members of the BHS softball team and coaches from the Barstow Dustdevils travel softball team helped put on the clinic. “I took the girls to see the CIF game, and Jessica got a ball signed by Amy,” parent and organizer Karen Donovan said. “I love the game, but it’s hard for a parent to coach their own kid sometimes. It’s nice to have girls like Amy, Candice and Whitney come out.” Joe Arizaga and Donovan have spent the last two months planning the clinic to help girls develop their softball skills and to raise travel and tournament funds for the Dustdevils. The clinic was $25 for pitching and $25 for offense and defense or $40 for everything. Arizaga said when they were looking for coaches to help out, the former and current BHS softball players stepped up. The clinic covered pitching, defense and offense. They spent most of the day divided amongst six stations that covered everything from fielding ground balls to the proper stance for hitting. In between sessions, they held a raffle for items such as batting helmets and Cal Lutheran (the Thomas’ alma matter) shirts donated by Wal-Mart and Phantom Sports. Cooper and the Thomas were busy signing shirts and pictures for the girls throughout the day. Almost 40 girls turned up for the clinic. Cooper said she hopes to expand the clinic in number of coaches and girls attending for next year. “College has taught us all these little drills that we know so well we don’t even think about it now,” Cooper said. “It’s nice to be able to come back and show these things to the girls that are coming up.”