Lake Campus baseball team helps fill sandbags for Celina medical center

About 15 Lakers helped fill new sandbags to protect the Mercer Health Community Medical Center from potential flooding.

A medical center Celina is better protected from floods thanks to help from players on the Wright State University-Lake Campus baseball team.

On Sept. 23, about 15 Lakers helped cut open 1,200 old sandbags, empty them and then use the sand to fill new bags, completing the job in four hours.

“When a Mercer Health rep reached out, it was a no-brainer to help assist in the project,” said Chad Geier, head baseball coach. “The team definitely got a workout filling sandbags and stacking them on skids.”

The Mercer Health Community Medical Center is the largest medical complex in the Celina area and includes Doctor’s Urgent Care, a variety of specialists and Mercer Health’s Disease Management Center, Diabetes Center, Pulmonology, Wound Healing Center, and Occupational Health and Wellness.

Flooding has historically been an issue in Mercer County. In 2019, severe storms caused flooding in several Mercer County communities, closing roads and causing school delays. In 2015, Mercer County issued a state of emergency due to flooding.

Geier said he is proud of the players for not hesitating to volunteer.

“The most gratifying thing about this experience is getting together a group of young men to do something for someone else that needs the help,” he said. “The guys may have learned a little from this experience as well. If you can help someone in need, you do it. No questions asked.”