Baseball approved, now officially a program

After four years of trial and error, ASCC has approved the Penguin Baseball Club's appeal to become a program and receive funding.

The ASCC Executive committee approved the club after two separate committees denied it. Lee Brand, the advisor to the club and teacher at Clark, said that he expected it to be denied as it had been in the past.

"It [the approval] was a little bit of a surprise," said Brand.

Clark athletic director Denny Huston, said that he understood that ASCC's finance committee had only so much money to fund all the programs. The club originally asked to receive about $27,000 but after the first denial they decreased the amount to $14,000.

Alyshia Saltman, ASCC finance director, explains why ASCC denied the club's, and others proposals to becoming programs.

"The Finance Committee does not support taking funds from existing programs to fund new programs," said Saltman, "Such actions send a very distinct message to current programs; it implies that Finance Committee does not support existing programs."

Saltman said that there are many people supporting the club. Students, Community members, and administrators support it.

"The Finance Committee also supports baseball, we want baseball to become a program," said Saltman.

Barbra Kerr, Executive Director of Communications and Marketing, said that after the documentation is signed by Ted Broussard, President Bob Knight, and the Board of Trustees, the club will officially be a program and receive funding.

Huston said that the money will be used to start to improve the baseball field, to buy equipment, and to pay the Coach, Don Freeman who is recruiting new players now. The program is able to give out 10 full scholarships, paying up to 65 percent of the player's tuition while tuition waivers are in the process of being approved by Clark.

Huston stated that the program will have to raise more funding through fundraisers and private donations to pay for travel and the continuation of the additions to the baseball field. He said that the field, fences, hitting shed, seating, and the scoreboard all have to be improved. The estimated amount of money required for this five-year project is nearly a half-million dollars.

"Our job is to be a service for all sports in Clark County," said Houston. "It was a long arduous task."

Houston said he and many others before him worked hard to get the baseball club approved as a program since he started working here in 2009. Despite the other clubs that want to become programs and receive funding, he said that he's taking a breather before starting anything else.

"I'm ecstatic to say the least," Huston said. "Baseball is so good it has to be here."