The Hope Mills Boosters American Legion baseball team solved a nagging problem while also paying tribute to a beloved supporter who recently died.

Getting to road baseball games each summer was a challenge for the boosters as coaches and team members had to find their own transportation to and from games. 

That problem was solved thanks to the support of the Massey Hill Lions Club and one of its members, Fred McFayden. With their help, the Boosters bought an old Cumberland County school bus and converted it into an activity bus.

They used it for the first time last month. 

“The bus was bought for safety reasons at the conclusion of last season,’’ said Mark Kahlenberg, coach of the Boosters team. “The Massey Hill Lions Club has been a great support system for our program. Fred was the biggest reason the bus was purchased, and he’s always been there for us.’’ 

Tragically, McFayden died unexpectedly this April, at the age of 64, before the 2019 American Legion baseball season began.

“The club thought it would be fitting to name (the bus) in honor of Fred as an enduring testament to his love for Legion baseball and his dedication to keep it alive in Hope Mills,’’ Kahlenberg said.