The Two Harbors softball team spent their Saturday at Super One in Two Harbors, bagging groceries, greeting customers, and raising money for the season ahead. For Head Coach John Sandstrom, the day was more than a fundraiser. It was a reminder of why he loves coaching and why this particular group means so much to him.
“The older I get, the more I love it, the happier it makes me,” Sandstrom said. “And I have got the nicest group of girls. Of course, this is my 10th year as a head coach between basketball and softball, and I have never had a bad bunch, but this bunch is just exceptional.”
He describes them the way most coaches hope to talk about their teams.
“They are well behaved, and they are good students, and they listen, and they are kind. I cannot ask for more than that,” he said.
The fundraiser was a success from the moment the girls walked in the door. Sandstrom said the staff and customers at Super One made the experience even better.
“It went fantastic. First of all, people at Super One were so nice to us. They were so welcoming and so kind,” he said.
The girls rotated through two three-hour shifts, offering to bag groceries and chat with customers. Sandstrom said they handled the steady stream with maturity and kindness.
“The people were so nice to the girls and I was so proud of these kids. They had such a good work ethic and they were so polite to the people,” he said.
Junior Lainee Anderson agreed, stating, “The people at Super One were very nice to us and people were very generous.”
By the end of the day, the team had collected more than 1,500 dollars in donations. A shopper from the Cities even dropped a 50-dollar bill into the kitty.
“I had so much fun. We were there from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” Sandstrom said. “I stayed the whole time. I just had a riot. I cannot tell you how many people said to me something like, I am just happy to see kids working for something instead of having it expected to just be handed to them. I will bet I heard it from a dozen different people.”
For Sandstrom, the fundraiser was not only about raising money but also about building confidence and connection.
“I think it is a wonderful experience for the girls because they learn and are forced to talk to adults they do not know,” he said. “It is kind of a good team building exercise.”
Anderson said the day felt meaningful for the players as well.
“This was a fun activity for our team, and it felt good for us to earn money for our equipment,” said Anderson.
The money raised will go directly toward equipment and uniforms, which continue to grow more expensive each year. The school provides some funding, but with price tags like 500 dollars on a bat, funds are easily swallowed up by basic needs.
“This year we are gonna buy one more bat, and then the balance of the money, roughly 1,000 dollars, are going to go towards new uniforms,” he said. “I think this is our fifth year, and they are getting tired.”
Players also shoulder many of their own expenses for gloves, packs, and the gear that comes with being a softball player.
Sandstrom left Super One feeling grateful.
“The people that talked to us were so kind and generous and friendly too,” he said. “I thought our kids did a wonderful job. They showed a great work ethic. And they were very friendly with the people. I think they should all be proud of what they did.”
The Agates’ season was slated to open on April 2 at an away game in Cromwell-Wright. They are slated to play Proctor on April 6 and Cook County on April 10, also on the road.
