Annual Hiland Pasta Dinner Jan. 27 Benefits Hawks Baseball Program

Neighbors and supporters filled the Hiland High School cafeteria for the annual Hiland baseball pasta dinner, a community fundraiser that concentrated attention and resources on the Hiland Hawks' bid to chase a state-record fourth consecutive state championship. The event combined a family-style Italian meal with direct access to players and staff ahead of the Hawks' winter schedule.

The pasta dinner took place Tuesday, Jan. 23, from 4:30–7 p.m., immediately before the Hawks' basketball game with Tuscarawas Valley. Admission was by donation, with all proceeds designated for the Hiland Hawks baseball program. Hiland players and staff handled serving duties, creating time for conversation and short updates about the program's offseason plans and competitive goals.

Attendees were offered a variety of Italian dishes, garlic bread, Italian salad and desserts. The evening also featured the program's annual prize raffle; tickets were available in advance from a Hiland baseball player or at the dinner, and the raffle drawing was held at 6:15 p.m. The combination of food, fundraising and the raffle made the gathering both social and practical, delivering immediate financial support while strengthening lines of communication between athletes, coaches and the broader Holmes County community.

Local fundraisers like the pasta dinner play a pragmatic role in sustaining high school athletics. By channeling donations directly to the Hawks baseball program, the event helps cover routine program needs and creates a predictable source of local support outside district budgets. The player-led service element also deepens civic engagement: residents had an opportunity to speak with student-athletes about training, schedules and the program's aim to break a state record, while parents and alumni reinforced community ties that matter for volunteerism and attendance during the spring season.

For Holmes County residents, the pasta dinner offered more than a meal; it was a visible demonstration of grassroots backing for a program with recent on-field success. With the dinner concluded, the Hiland Hawks will turn their attention to preparations for the upcoming baseball season and the pursuit of that fourth consecutive title, backed by the community funds and engagement generated at the cafeteria table.