HMS Unveils New Batting Cage
Hunter Middle School has unveiled a new batting cage, a project driven by the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce's Enterprise Gateway Council. The facility will allow the baseball and softball teams a dedicated space for practice on campus, solving scheduling and safety challenges the school previously faced due to having only one field.
Gary Kuehn, District 9 School Board member, Chamber of Commerce member, and former Hunter Middle School principal, played a key role in securing support for the batting facility. Kuehn presented the idea after The Chamber expressed interest in supporting educational projects. The initiative was then approved with a unanimous vote. Local businesses generously donated materials and labor, covering the almost $20,000 structure cost, with the netting funded through a school-wide fundraiser.
Principal Heidi Moses stressed the importance of the new facility for both athletics and community engagement, saying it will give students more opportunities to develop their skills. "Hamilton County has moved softball to the spring to follow TSSAA's calendar, so both our baseball and softball teams use this facility. We split it equally for both boys and girls," Moses said. "Without lights, it was unfortunate that some of our teams were having to go somewhere else to practice. With this facility, they can utilize both spaces (field and cage), so our athletes can stay on campus and practice here. This gives us more space for our kids to do what they love."
Baseball coach Brandon Johnson and softball coach Courtney Campbell also expressed their excitement about how the batting cage will benefit their teams by allowing more practice time. "Not many middle schools around the county have a hitting facility like this, with the two different lanes," Johnson said. "It'll be great to get multiple repetitions in, whether on the field or hitting here. With the size, we can have a lot of infield work, throw bullpens; it'll benefit them tremendously– especially as they go into high school. The work they're going to be able to put in over here will benefit them now and for years to come."
This project, which started in October 2023, is the first Education Project from the Chamber's Enterprise Gateway Council. A donor board displayed on the facility thanks all those who made the project possible, including A&D Remodeling LLC, Baseline Turf, Chapman Concrete CONSTRUCTION, EPB, LAMBCON Ready Mix, P&C Construction, TNT Concrete, UFP SITE BUILT, Vulcan Materials Company, 84 Lumber, School Board Member Gary Kuehn, Educator and Administrator Lebron Sterchi, and The Chattanooga Area Chamber.
According to Principal Moses, the school-wide fundraiser for the netting raised "way more than we needed for the net alone, so we're going to use the additional money to do some other upgrades for our athletics. We ordered the net, and it will be here in January– just in time for the spring."
"This was a good first activity for The Chamber," Kuehn said. "We have voted on and started our next project, which will be at Harrison Elementary. It will be an outdoor classroom and garden facility in partnership with Reflection Riding and Hunter Construction Company."
Hunter Middle School's new batting facility is a strong example of how local businesses, the community, and the school district can work together to enhance resources for students. With continued community support, projects like these will keep empowering students and fostering their growth on and off the field.