Fundraiser planned to bring lights to Saugerties softball field

Members of the girls’ softball league square off during a recent game at Thornton Field, one of only two ballfields at Cantine that does not have lights

Only two ballfields at the Cantine Memorial Complex in Saugerties lack lights, and a group of parents of softball players are raising money to reduce that number to one.

On June 2, the Saugerties Little League board will hold a Parent’s Night Out for the community at the Saugerties American Legion on John St. The event will contribute to begin raising funds for the lights. The evening, in memory of Suzi Thornton Filak, is being called “Light it up!” It will run from 6 to 9 p.m.

“Our girls’ program currently does not have a field with lights for nighttime games, and the memorial scoreboards for Hutton and Thornton fields need improvement,” according to a release from the Saugerties Little League Board, which oversees girls’ softball.

Suzi Thornton Filak was the prime mover behind the girls’ softball movement in Saugerties. She was constantly working to promote the program in the community, and making sure that the girls got plenty of publicity for their efforts. The Thornton field was dedicated to the memory of the Thornton family and Filak, who passed several years ago.

The Saugerties Little League continues Filak’s efforts to promote girls’ softball and to make a difference in the lives of all Saugerties children.

“Lifetime memories are built on the softball-baseball field,” the release from the board says. “We are hoping that our raffle efforts at Parent’s Night Out will significantly raise money to Light Thornton Up in her memory and provide an equal venue for both boys and girls competition at the Majors, and Junior/Senior League Division Levels.”

Schatzel Construction and the Saugerties Stallions have pledged funds for the lights.

Any other corporation or individual who would like to help support the lights program for the girls can contact sponsorship coordinator Tricia Patterson at tricia333@msn.com.

Cost of the evening is $40 per person. There will be music, door prizes, raffles, food and adult beverages.