Oct 31 2006 10:35 AM
...benefactor.
Milledge gives alma mater $5,000 donation
EAST MANATEE - Thanks to a $5,000 donation from Lakewood Ranch High graduate and former Mustangs player Lastings Milledge, the school's baseball team will wear new uniforms next spring.
Milledge, who recently finished his rookie year with the New York Mets, was at Friday night's football game between Lakewood Ranch and Punta Gorda Charlotte. Introduced before the game, he presented the check to Mustangs baseball coach Dave Moates.
Wearing a white Mets jersey with Milledge's name and "06" on the back, Moates happily accepted the donation.
Moates has been seeking someone with deep pockets to purchase new uniforms since the ones the players have been wearing date back to the beginning of the program.
Milledge, who wore those uniforms only three years ago when the Mustangs won a state championship, found out about the team's need and pledged the money more than a month ago.
"He said he was going to take care of it," Moates said. "This (having a major league benefactor) doesn't happen very often."
As Milledge, the most famous athlete in the school's short history, walked off the field, he shook hands with Lakewood Ranch cheerleaders and fans and waved at the crowd.
Though Milledge spent the majority of the season in Triple A, he played in 56 major league games, registering 14 runs, 40 hits, 22 RBIs and four home runs in 166 big league at-bats. He hit .241.