On Saturday, Jan. 14, the West Ashley High School Baseball Team hosted the WAHS Baseball Oyster Roast & Silent Auction Fundraiser at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park. The event serves as the number one fundraiser for the team each season.
More than 500 people were in attendance at the fundraiser, which is almost twice the number of people who attended last year. Not only was the amount of people who attended this year larger, the scope and size of the event itself was larger as well. Head Baseball Coach Tyson Azevedo hopes this trend continues each year. “The idea came through my wife and me collaborating along with help from some of our baseball coaches,” said Azevedo. “She works in events, so I saw an opportunity for growth in our program, and it has worked out tremendously. It brings our community together through donations by many business partners mainly in the West Ashley area.”
Those donations he mentioned are a part of the fundraiser’s silent auction where patrons bid on a wide variety of items throughout the event. Some of the items that were auctioned off include season-long weekend tickets to the Charleston RiverDogs, local cruise tickets, coupons for SAT / ACT prep courses, salon and massage packages, home security installations, pizza and dance party packages, a Myrtle Beach vacation, a Columbia vacation, and a Charleston staycation. Over 50 items were auctioned off during the event. The most popular item this year was the Charleston staycation which included a carriage tour, a two-night stay at the Charleston Place Hotel, two different dinners at five-star restaurants downtown, and lunch at a different downtown restaurant. The total cost of the package was valued at $1,500.
Food and games was another big draw at the fundraiser. Patrons could eat from one of the many oyster tables, enjoy a bowl of chili or a hot dog, or grab something from the dessert bar. There was also an area set up with corn hole boards and a jump castle for the children. This year, a live band was added to entertain the crowd. A few of the baseball players even joined in with the band during several numbers and showed off their musical talents.
The money raised during the event will help with future improvements and additions to the West Ashley High Baseball Program. The funds will be used to purchase batting cages, new field equipment, and new uniforms and other apparel for the team. It will also be used when repairing machinery and making upgrades, building a donor wall, and as when they begin forming a B-team.
One thing that is important to Azevedo is that the event be a true team effort. All of the players are required to take shifts in different areas during the event. Some manage the jump castle, some help at the oyster tables, and some assist with the silent auction. Many of their parents are involved in the planning and / or working of the event as well. From getting donations for the silent auction to helping set up or clean up the event, it could not be a success without their help and support.
The WAHS Baseball Oyster Roast & Silent Auction Fundraiser was, once again, a tremendous success. “I heard nothing but positive things being said,” said Azevedo. “I’m very thankful that the baseball program has the support and care we have from our community, [its] businesses, our school, and our families.”
