Helena’s Baseball Drive Gains Momentum
A grassroots organization called Love For the Game Baseball has already collected more than half of the $115,000 required to fund a varsity baseball program at Helena High School and Capital High School. The group says the money will be in place by the June 9 deadline, when the Helena Public Schools Board of Trustees is set to vote on the sport’s reinstatement.
If the measure passes, the district will join neighboring communities such as East Helena and Townsend, which already offer baseball at the high‑school level. Currently, only two Class AA schools in Montana lack the program, leaving fewer than 50 youths participating in Legion baseball across the city.
Brian Solan, a longtime baseball parent, has been the driving force behind the campaign. He says the initiative would expand opportunities for over 100 children who otherwise would not have a chance to play the sport within the school system.
The effort has drawn support from a wide range of stakeholders, including local businesses, individual donors and parents involved with the Legion program. Their contributions have helped the campaign surpass the halfway mark and keep the project on track for a timely completion.
Looking Ahead
Should the board approve the addition, the new program could serve as a model for other districts considering similar expansions. The community’s early success underscores the demand for youth sports and the impact of coordinated fundraising on public education initiatives.