By TOMMY BRYAN, sports editor

MT. JULIET -- Talk about stepping up to the plate. The Nashville Sounds have done just that, provid- ing a fundraising mechanism that will allow the Mt. Juliet League to raise up to $15,000 to help offset the cost of field repairs.

The 13-field complex on US Highway 70 that is home to some 105 youth teams was severely damaged by the floods of May 1 and 2 -- destroying equipment and fencing while taking a good amount of infield dirt to who knows where.

The Sounds have made 1,500 tickets available to the league for a Sunday night, July 18 game at Greer Stadium. The league will keep 100 percent of the proceeds of the $10 tickets.

"This is a wonderful gesture by the Sounds," said League president Ray Justice, "they’ve put it in our hands. If we can sell these tickets, we’ll get a big boost. In addition, the Sounds have put us in touch with Major League Baseball’s ‘Baseball Tomorrow’ program. Grants are out there from MLB that could mean another big chunk of money for our efforts."

Youth baseball fields in Nashville’s Shelby Park, Mt. Juliet, Hendersonville, Ashland City, and Bellevue were severely damaged in the flood and have been struggling to recover. The Project will assist up to 15,000 ballplayers and 40 baseball, softball, and soccer fields in the area.

"The flood has taken a serious toll on youth baseball in Middle Tennessee," said Brad Tammen, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Sounds. Some of these facilities were just wiped out. The Nashville Sounds and others in this community want to help get these kids back out on the field."

Anyone interested in purchasing a ticket to the July 18 Mt. Juliet Night at Greer Stadium can go online at: www.mjleague.org.