Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

Carl Caudle’s contribution to the Thorsby community will live on through a donation by his family to Sam Bentley Park.

A covered batting practice area donated in his memory had a dedication on Feb. 19, where family gathered for a photo and a local pastor prayed over the site.

Angie Caudle said she wanted to do something at the park in memory of her husband.

“There was nobody like him,” she said.

Carl Caudle died from COVID-19 on Dec. 25, 2020. He had been active in the Thorsby parks and recreation scene by helping Angie run the concession stand and serving as assistant coach to his grandson’s team in 2017.

“I am on the park and rec board, and … the cages that were here were not covered,” Angie Caudle said. “They had been here awhile.”

The park and rec board helped her develop a plan in 2021, and other donors joined the effort.

These donors included Darin Scott Electric, Shelby Concrete, Chilton Contractors, Southern Lawn, W&B Investments and several others. She said there had been a delay in construction, so it was not complete until right before the baseball season last year.

The signs specifying the official name of the practice area were put up after the season had started, but Angie Caudle wanted to have an official dedication.

Angie said they have younger grandchildren that might use the practice area later.