Live PD officers opponents for Eagles’ soccer opener, club seeing “Field of Dreams’" in their future
Chapin, SC (James Bowers) -The Chapin Screaming Eagles Special Needs Athletic Club kicked off another season of the “beautiful game” with the help of some of Richland County’s finest Monday evening, as the club opened its soccer season at Chapin Intermediate School. Though a little dreary weather necessitated that the Eagles’ game against Richland County Sheriff’s Department officers, including those from the “Live PD” cast, and K-9 unit, be moved into the school’s gymnasium, it didn’t dampen the spirits of the participants or spectators who got a kick out of Monday’s festivities. The Eagles’ soccer season features games with other community organizations such as Chapin, Dutch Fork, and Mid-Carolina High Schools’ soccer teams, as well as teams from the University of South Carolina, Newberry College,and the South Carolina United Soccer Club. Soccer is the second sport the club offers, with baseball being the other activity for the participants’ enjoyment. According to club founder Jenny Bowers, the club has managed to raise over $200,000 for its planned “field of dreams,” a specially designed, high school caliber stadium which will serve as the site of the club’s activities. Bowers hopes the stadium will be located at the Chapin Alternative Academy. This facility was formerly the site of Chapin High School, and the old athletic fields are still present at the site. If Bowers’ plans come to fruition, the fields could be upgraded to become the home of the Screaming Eagles.Bowers says the club is in discussion with Lexington-Richland County School District Five officials and plans to present their idea to the school board at upcoming meetings. The Screaming Eagles have the support of the community’s pastors who have all pledged to help give these kids their own place to play.
For more information and to figure out how you can help, visit Screaming Eagles Special Needs athletics club on Facebook or visit screamingeaglespecialneeds.org.
