Tampa Bay Rays donate sports equipment to local high school

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.- The Tampa Bay Rays and Good Sports, a national nonprofit organization, donated $10,000 worth of sports equipment to Port Charlotte High School student athletes.

Port Charlotte High’s baseball and softball teams displayed their excitement Friday taking a look at all the new helmets, bats and nets.

“I’m really excited because we don’t get a lot of money being softball and all,” said student Emily McBety.

“I think it’s really cool, I think it’s going to help out our athletic department,” said student Brandt Little.

“If the doors are open to visit a school, a hospital, a Boys or Girls Club, whatever it is, I’m going to make the most of it,” said Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer.

Archer represented the Rays at Friday’s event making a point to encourage the teens to go after their dreams.

“Being able to come out and them to know who I am is pretty cool and I hope it’s special to them,” Archer said.

“The best reaction we get is when the kids show up and see all the equipment set up and they say ‘is that for us?!'” said Michael Wright with Good Sports.

The students said they were thankful they’d now be able to stress less about fundraising and focus more on their love of the game.

“I mean we could always use all the extra money for this stuff,” McBety said.

“We fundraise all the signs out here so this is a big help for next year,” Little added.

This is the third year the Rays have worked with Good Sports to support local youth.