T-shirt

Megan Dobrinski leads her softball team at Bullard into battle from February to May.

Now, Dobrinski is in a battle of her own as the head coach of the Lady Panthers has been diagnosed with cancer.

Lindale head softball coach Meredith Grant and other area softball coaches are teaming together to fight with Dobrinski.

“She’s kind of stubborn,” Grant said. “Her and her husband said not to do anything. But a bunch of coaches were reaching out who wanted to do something to help. She’s done a lot for softball, and we wanted to give back to her. When we came up with an idea involving softball, we figured she might be all for it. It speaks highly of the respect other coaches have for her.”

Grant and the other coaches are hosting the “Cancer picked the wrong coach” softball clinic July 21 at the Bullard High School softball field. Grant said they will also have access to the football and baseball fields at Bullard, if needed.

The clinic will be from 2 to 5 p.m. on that day and is for players entering grades 6-12.

Joining Grant are Tyler Junior College head softball coach Maria Winn-Ratliff, UT Tyler head softball coach Mike Reed, Stephen F. Austin State University head coach Nicole Dickson and numerous East Texas coaches.

“Coach Winn at TJC, Coach Nanci Dixon who works with her at Bullard and I were brainstorming. We thought a clinic would be a good way to rally around her. Coach Winn reached out to Coach Reed and Nicole Dickson, and within 10 minutes, we had 25 coaches wanting to help out.”

Grant’s Lindale Lady Eagles and Dobrinski’s Bullard squad played to a 1-1 tie in the 2019 season, but their relationship goes back a while.

Grant coached Dobrinski when she was a freshman at All Saints and then for two years at Lon Morris College.

“We definitely have a bond,” Grant said. “I’ve always called her Smiley. I was not only her coach, but we have developed a good friendship.”

T-shirts are available for $20 at coachd.ecwid.com. Orders are due by July 8.

Suggested donations for the clinic are $25. Additional donations can be made through PayPal to grantml@lisdeagles.net.

For more information, email grantml@lisdeagles.net or nanci.dixon@bullardisd.net.

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