Local youth league receives major donation honoring JoAnne Self

The late JoAnne Self often made a strong pitch for support of La Conner sports teams and their players.

Now they will be able to make pitches of their own thanks to a major donation inspired by the memory of the longtime local coach and mentor.

The La Conner Youth League is now recipient of funding support to purchase a portable pitching mound to be used on the school campus field where home games will be played this spring now that the old Hedlin’s Ballfield mound has been leveled and cleared for residential construction on Maple Avenue.

Portable mounds allow alternate use of the same field by girls’ softball teams, which pitch from flat surfaces, and various divisions of boys’ baseball teams, whose mounds are placed at different distances and heights, depending upon age.

Youth League treasurer Catey Ritchie announced the donation last week.

“We have a donation in the name of Mrs. Self,” Ritchie said. “This person is purchasing us a mound – $3,500 or so.”

The anonymous donor, according to Ritchie, “was really impacted by Mrs. Self, as were his siblings. He wants it to be in her memory.”

Self, a valued La Conner school district employee, filled a variety of academic, food service and transportation roles in addition to her coaching duties. She died last month at age 81. She was an outstanding softball player herself prior to coaching at both the youth and high school levels.

Self’s contributions were so numerous and impactful that the school district established a scholarship award in her honor.

In a related note:

La Conner Youth League has begun the online registration process for the 2022 season, Ritchie said. Those wishing to register can contact the league at [email protected] to receive the necessary link once the format is fully operational. La Conner Youth League is also seeking adult volunteers to serve as coaches and umpires, she said.