Legion donates van to baseball clubs

American Legion Post 26 Commander Tom Coester hands a set of keys over to Robert Woodruff, American Legion baseball president and Area B state director, during a presentation May 23. The local Legion post donated the van to the local American Legion baseball teams to allow the clubs to travel to and from away games each season. Others attending the presentation were post chaplain Jim Blanton, American Legion vice commander for the Department of Idaho Jack Schafhausen, Legion junior coach Chris DeVore and Legion Single A coach Mike Hobgood.

Mountain Home's American Legion baseball clubs will travel this season in a new set of wheels as representatives from Post 26 presented them with the keys to a 14-passenger van.

Senior officers with the local Legion post made the donation to the president and coaches of the two American Legion baseball teams in Mountain Home during an informal gathering May 23.

The post owns two vans, and the officers decided to lend one of the baseball teams for their use during their season each year, said post commander Tom Coester.

"The van will provide a way to transport the players all at once for their away games. It will be much safer for both teams," Coester said.

Before handing over the van, the post ensured the names of the baseball teams were added to the van.

"We decided to have their name wrapped on the side of the van to let the public know who they are and where they cone from," Coester said. "As far as we know, we have the only van within the state of Idaho that has been provided to a team for their use. We are proud of that fact and that we support our children-in-youth programs."

The Legion baseball season begins today, June 1, with the junior squad scheduled to start their season on Friday.