College softball players in Columbus for the 2026 NAIA Softball World Series swapped their softball gloves for disposable gloves Wednesday morning to beautify the Chattahoochee Riverwalk.
College softball players in Columbus for the 2026 NAIA Softball World Series swapped their softball gloves for disposable gloves May 20, 2026, to beautify the Chattahoochee Riverwalk. Players and coaches from two schools, the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky, and Marian University in Indianapolis scoured the Riverwalk for trash, debris and litter as part of the Champions of Character Cleanup effort organized by the Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission and the Columbus Sports Council. Mike Haskey mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com
The NAIA Softball World Series is May 21-27 at the South Commons Softball Complex. Ten teams from across the country are competing.
“We’ve been partnering with Sports Council and the teams for quite a few years now, and it’s always a great time.,” said Lisa Thomas-Cutts, executive director of Keep Columbus Beautiful.
University of the Cumberlands head softball coach Bruce Lenington, right, said service is a big part of the NAIA’s mission and a way to give back to host communities. College softball players in Columbus for the 2026 NAIA Softball World Series swapped their softball gloves for disposable gloves May 20, 2026, to beautify the Chattahoochee Riverwalk. Players and coaches from two schools, the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky, and Marian University in Indianapolis scoured the Riverwalk for trash, debris and litter as part of the Champions of Character Cleanup effort organized by the Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission and the Columbus Sports Council. Mike Haskey mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com
Thomas-Cutts said previous efforts have involved players and coaches volunteering at the MercyMed Farm, the George Washington Carver Victory Garden & Farm at Turn Around Columbus and local parks like Cooper Creek and Lakebottom.
“It is just a really great activity that they do,” she said, “and for them a chance to see how beautiful Columbus is, and all while enhancing it at the same time.”
University of the Cumberlands head softball coach Bruce Lenington said service is a big part of the NAIA’s mission and a way to give back to host communities. College softball players in Columbus for the 2026 NAIA Softball World Series swapped their softball gloves for disposable gloves May 20, 2026, to beautify the Chattahoochee Riverwalk. Players and coaches from two schools, the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky, and Marian University in Indianapolis scoured the Riverwalk for trash, debris and litter as part of the Champions of Character Cleanup effort organized by the Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission and the Columbus Sports Council. Mike Haskey mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com
Bruce Lenington, head softball coach at the University of the Cumberlands, said service is a big part of the NAIA’s mission and a way to give back to host communities.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of a few of these, so it’s always something we’ve done here in this community,” Lenington said. “But every national tournament, whoever’s hosting us, we try to enrich that community a little bit and make sure that we leave it a little better than what we found it.”
College softball players in Columbus for the 2026 NAIA Softball World Series swapped their softball gloves for disposable gloves May 20, 2026, to beautify the Chattahoochee Riverwalk. Players and coaches from two schools, the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky, and Marian University in Indianapolis scoured the Riverwalk for trash, debris and litter as part of the Champions of Character Cleanup effort organized by the Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission and the Columbus Sports Council. Mike Haskey mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com
Ashley Earick, director of events for the Columbus Sports Council said all 10 teams playing in the NAIA Softball World Series are doing volunteer projects in the community.
“It’s really awesome that they are doing this because it’s completely optional,” Earick said.
College softball players in Columbus for the 2026 NAIA Softball World Series swapped their softball gloves for disposable gloves May 20, 2026, to beautify the Chattahoochee Riverwalk. Players and coaches from two schools, the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky, and Marian University in Indianapolis scoured the Riverwalk for trash, debris and litter as part of the Champions of Character Cleanup effort organized by the Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission and the Columbus Sports Council. Mike Haskey mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com
College softball players in Columbus for the 2026 NAIA Softball World Series swapped their softball gloves for disposable gloves May 20, 2026, to beautify the Chattahoochee Riverwalk. Players and coaches from two schools, the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky, and Marian University in Indianapolis scoured the Riverwalk for trash, debris and litter as part of the Champions of Character Cleanup effort organized by the Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission and the Columbus Sports Council. Mike Haskey mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com
Michigan native Mike Haskey graduated in 1985 from Central Michigan University with a B.A.A. in journalism. Though trained as a photojournalist, Mike has embraced the industry’s always evolving multimedia demands by learning various video skills and more, including becoming the Ledger-Enquirer’s drone pilot. He’s served and lived in Columbus, GA, for more than 30 years.
