Nute athletes make it a team effort to help our veterans

Nute baseball team players, front from left wearing special camo hats, Eben Gourlay, Markie Levesque, Conner Bradway, Adam Taatjes, David Barca; back from left, Coach Ryan Norton, Cade Jenkins, Chris Tracia, Stephen Steer, Ryan Pennell (Courtesy photo)

MILTON - Nute High School athletes will be going to bat for veterans on Monday.

During home games with Farmington High, Nute's baseball and softball players will don special Operation Hat Trick caps that will help rehabilitate and honor our wounded veterans.

The hats are sponsored by The American Legion Oscar G. Morehouse Post 61, Milton.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the hats will go to help veterans suffering from PTSD and other physical and mental issues as well as helping them find jobs and acclimate to a life of normalcy after serving overseas.

But the reasoning behind Operation Hat Trick is twofold. The goal is also to raise awareness among young students for the service and sacrifice of our wounded veterans.

Operation Hat Trick is a nonprofit organization that generates awareness and support for the recovery of wounded service members and veterans through the sale of OHT branded merchandise. OHT donates to those organizations that support its mission.

OHT began as a local nonprofit but went national in 2012.

Its adoptees include 220 schools spanning all 50 states, Minor League Baseball where 70 teams have adopted OHT, the AHL and ECHL hockey.

Beneficiaries of OHT donations include Walter Reed National Medical Military Center, the Mission Continues, the Wounded Warrior Bonfire Project, Easter Seals/Veterans Count, UNH's Northeast Passage, the Travis Mills Project, Navy SEAL Foundation, Semper Fi Fund, Special Operations Warrior Foundation, VA General Post Fund and VA Medical Center in Washington.

Throughout the week of May 9, 51 other New Hampshire high schools will also be participating in the unique event, tabbed the Operation Hat Trick N.H. High School Initiative.

Nute's baseball and softball team players will only be wearing the special camouflage hats during the game on Monday but will get to keep them forever, said Amy Taatjes of the Teneriffe Sports Club, an organization that was formed to support athletics in Milton.

Some of the things the club does on a regular basis involve paying for tournament and jamboree fees for Nute sports teams, hosting sports banquets, awarding an "Athlete of the Month," and organizing sports clinics for elementary age athletes.

Taatjes said the club would also be offering a scholarship opportunity for graduating student athletes this year.

Monday's games both begin at 4 p.m.