Softballers slap on a coat of kindness

Paul Dunlop
PAKENHAM softballers have pitched in to help one of their own.
Players swapped mitts for paintbrushes to paint the house of teammate Phil Johnston.
Mr Johnston is recovering from cancer and had been too ill to do the work himself.
The clubmates gave Phil and wife Rosie’s house in Murphy Road a new lease on life.
The Johnstons, stalwarts of the softball club, were thrilled by the generosity of the players led by coach Murray McIntyre.
“It’s just fantastic, we can’t believe it,” Mrs Johnston said.
“It’s amazing what they’ve done for us, we are rapt.
“They have given up their spare time to come and give us a hand. It’s been a bit of a tough year so for them to organise something like that is really quite overwhelming.”
Mrs Johnston said her husband was making steady progress in his treatments after being diagnosed earlier this year.
The Johnstons hosted a barbecue for their teammates after the working bee. Then it was back to the softball field on Saturday.
Mr McIntyre said the players were happy to help out. The softball club fields men’s and women’s teams as well as underage team.
The Johnstons had been great contributors, playing, scoring and recruiting, he said.
“We had a chance to help out and we did,” Mr McIntyre said.
The softballers have certainly hit a home run in the community.