Community

Being Neighborly | Community steps up to the plate for softball player

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When Peninsula High School senior Kyla McCarthy showed up at Sehmel Homestead Park in March, she and a few other teammates thought it was where they needed to be for softball practice that day. All of her softball equipment was in her bag, including her PHS helmet, her bat, and outfielder glove.

But coaches sent out a message a few minutes later that practice was actually at the PHS field. The young women hurried to leave Sehmel so they wouldn’t be late for practice.

As soon as Kyla arrived at Peninsula, she realized she left her bag at Sehmel. She immediately drove back to get it, but it was gone.

Offers of help

Her mother, Kelly Lawson McCarthy, posted in the Facebook group Gig Harbor’s Positive Town Talk to ask if anyone had picked it up. She gave a description of the bag, and its contents, which all had Kyla’s name and contact information on them. Kyla had already checked with the parks office at Sehmel, and no one had turned it in there.

Unfortunately, the bag and equipment didn’t turn up. But the community did.

Many members of that Facebook group responded with offers to help in various ways. Some offered old softball equipment they had on hand. Others offered to purchase a bat or a glove.

But with the season in full swing, Kyla needed a used glove that was already broken in. And bat sizes vary.

“I didn’t ask for replacement equipment,” Kelly said. “When I posted, I had no doubt in my mind that the equipment would turn up. That’s how much faith I have in this community, and the people here.”

Kelly said she appreciates every person who offered help. Some weren’t even Gig Harbor residents, but instead were current or former athletes willing to give one of their bats, if the size was right. One cross posted on the social media platform, put Kelly in touch with people in other groups, and went out of their way to try to help.

Kelly found a used glove at an affordable price, but had no luck finding the bat that her daughter needed. Peninsula Proud, a nonprofit volunteer parent organization, has funds for such a predicament, and one commenter suggested that Kelly reach out to that group. Peninsula Proud has ordered a new bat for Kyla.

Reaching across a rivalry

One community member stood out in particular, Kelly said.

Geneve Filbert is the mother of a Gig Harbor High School softball player. She offered to loan Kyla one of her daughter’s bats. The two teams were scheduled to play against one another. That game was rained out, so Kyla didn’t use the bat, but Kelly said that Geneve’s neighborliness made an impression.

Geneve Filbert demonstrated that no matter the letters on a team jersey, she’s willing to help someone in need. When Kyla McCarthy’s sports equipment went missing, the Peninsula High School softball player needed a bat in order to play in an upcoming game. Filbert’s daughter plays for Gig Harbor High School, but she was willing to lend a bat so McCarthy could play in a game against her daughter’s team.

“We were scheduled to play against them,” Kelly said. “This is someone from the opposing team offering to let my daughter borrow equipment. She had the same sized bat. That exemplifies what this is about. I appreciated her willingness to help someone from the rival team.

“The community that I knew I live among showed its true colors and stepped up, even though I didn’t ask for replacement equipment,” she said. “They were very generous. We’ve hit some financial hard times, and it would have been a lot to try to replace the equipment, so I really appreciated just how loved and supported I felt. I don’t know any of these people. It’s very heartwarming.”