Tomahawks find new home

The Tomahawks Softball Inc., a local girls’ softball team, will be seeing greener pastures this summer – or at least greener fields. The Terrebonne Parish School Board accepted a request earlier this month to allow three Tomahawks teams to practice on H. L. Bourgeois and Evergreen Jr. High School’s softball fields.

The Tomahawks has three teams – 12U, 14U and 16U – that play throughout the summer.

Until now, local teams have been restricted to practicing on the parish’s recreation fields, where upkeep and maintenance are sub-par. Tomahawks president Charles Lewis said this will also provide an opportunity for players to stay in shape and work on fundamentals. It might even improve their chances of getting on the high school softball squad, he added.

He said that many of the players on the Tomahawks are players who will ultimately be fighting for spots on junior high and high school teams.

In order to play on the fields, the Tomahawks must maintain non-profit status and an active insurance policy. Under the agreement, neither the parish nor the school board would be held liable for any injuries to Tomahawks players.

While the schools will still be in charge of routine maintenance, the Tomahawks plan on installing breakaway bases and improving playing surfaces with tillers. Lewis said that parent workdays to assist with upkeep would be common.

In their first year, the Tomahawks placed second in several events and are aiming for a state championship in the future.