Stratford’s Mary Wilson Avant shining on, off the field

Last season, Stratford’s Mary Wilson Avant struck out 234 batters, placing her 11th in the state.

This season, Avant is changing the game, using her talents to give back to Macon through “Strikeouts for Hunger.”

Avant is on the varsity softball and basketball teams at Stratford, as well as the track and field team. When she is not playing sports, she is a faculty-elected peer mentor, part of Pep Club Leadership and the Student Activities Board, all while maintaining an excellent academic record.

“She wears me out just watching her,” Stratford head coach Jeff Treadway said. “(She is) just really involved in Stratford, really involved in her church and just a great person who’s just doing a lot.”

Since Avant plays sports year round, she never had time to go on mission trips. Although already heavily involved in school, church and sports, she was searching for a way to give back. Last year, Avant served at the Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia with classmates for a fall retreat.

She has committed to play softball at Georgia and will sign with the Bulldogs in November.

“I realized that I didn’t have to go on a mission trip overseas to make a difference, and so ‘Strikeouts for Hunger’ was born,” she said.

In early June, Avant sent out an email to family and friends asking for donations, a pledge of money for every strikeout she got this season. At the end of the season, the proceeds will be split between two local charities, the Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia and the Macon Outreach.

“I was pretty careful about the donation I made because she’s going to strike out a lot of people. That’s the type of pitcher she is,” Treadway said.

Avant has received $30.47 per strikeout, exceeding her goal of $25. Heading into Thursday’s game against Rutland, she had raised $1,800, pitching 59 strikeouts so far this season. Her goal is $2,000 per charity, which will provide 880 people with hot meals through Macon Outreach alone.

Avant will be accepting pledges through playoffs in October. To make a pledge for Strikeouts for Hunger, contact Avant at mwavant@gmail.com.

This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 9:41 PM with the headline "Stratford’s Mary Wilson Avant shining on, off the field ."