Some of the Hamilton Girls Softball Association's 2009 mentors, from left, Marissa Harrigan, Kimberly Ragazzo, Kim Murl and Taylor Lawson.

It’s terrific when a former athlete returns to a league in which he or she played and becomes a coach. The Hamilton Girls Softball Association goes a step further with a mentor program which allows current players to give back to the league.

HGSA allows experienced older players to serve as assistant coaches in its younger divisions – starting at 13 years old for the T-Ball Division (5 to 7) and 14 for the next level, the Instructional Division (8 and 9). The mentors teach softball skills and are excellent role models to the youngsters just starting out in the sport. In addition, the volunteering allows mentors to accumulate community service hours for high school, religious and college requirements.

HGSA recently honored 12 mentors from the 2009 season, some of whom are familiar names from the all-star and high school levels, and others who soon may come into the scholastic spotlight: Sara Baum, Caitlyn Brugnoli, Samantha Dice, Jessica Fremgen, Marisa Goodwin, Marissa Harrigan, Taylor Lawson, Kim Murl, Kimberly Ragazzo, Lauren Salge, Emily Suto and Katherine Whittaker. This group provided 236½ hours of mentoring last year. Several of the mentors were awarded the prestigious Presidential Service Award for their service contributions.

After being led by Tara Lavin last year, the mentor program is led by John Giordano this year. Recreation leagues without a mentor program would be well-served to add one. Everybody wins with it.

Follow Craig Haley's Mercer County sports columns on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CraigHaley and on the Hamiltonspace.com page of Facebook.