Playing ball at the haircut-a-thon

As the April sun shone through the double doors swung wide at Attitudes Salon on Sunday, smells of sausage on the grill mixed with shampoo to create what some patrons described as "euphoria."

Or maybe it was just the free haircuts.

For the second year in a row, salon owner Brandy Plattsmier volunteered her salon's services, her troupe of hairdressers and, wielding a black pair of Wahl clippers herself, her own expertise, for the benefit of Carson High's baseball team.

"I just got a call on my cell phone about this time last year," said fourth-year coach Steve Cook, who has guided the Senators to a 15-10 record two-thirds of the way through the season. "(Brandy) introduced herself to me and said she wanted to do this fundraiser.

"It sort of caught me by surprise, and it turned out great. This year looks to be better."

Indeed, several co-sponsors jumped on the haircut-a-thon bandwagon including Costco, Smith's Food & Drug, Starbucks and Save Mart Supermarkets.

Local retailers like the Purple Avocado, Gold Dust West, Silver Oak Golf Course, Q's BBQ, Liaison Salon, Straw Hat Pizza and Prestige Car Wash also pitched in raffle prizes.

"It's good to know the (community) is there supporting us," said Tyler Hutchins, 16, a junior outfielder for the Senators. "It's nice to come in, volunteer a shift and see people here for the team."

Plattsmier said the idea for the haircut-a-thon, (a $20 donation is asked of patrons and 100 percent of the proceeds go to the team) came to her as if by accident.

"You could say I just got a wild hair," she said with a smile. "Actually, I'm just a small business. I love baseball - and the guys usually come in here and get their hair cut anyway.

"So it seemed a natural fit."

Although the season is careening toward playoffs, coach Cook said the team still could use plenty of help from the community.

"I mean, just keeping the field the way it needs to be, the coaches paid - even buying baseballs - it all adds up," he said. "I think we need to raise about $10,000 every year just to break even.

"So yeah, this really helps."

David Perce, 16, a Carson Junior infielder/pitcher, just got his hair cut and was busy helping sweep up just before noon Sunday.

"It's nice," he said. "I think it looks pretty OK."

As for the rest of the season, the Senators have lofty goals; although multiple players espoused the merit of taking "one game at a time" - it seemed all could agree, having a day of rest and a little pampering (the team of 19 just swept a double-header at Damonte Ranch on Saturday) was a welcome break.

Perhaps only coach Cook kept his game face.

"My son Ethan is getting his first haircut today," he said. "He's only six months - guess it's time."

• Contact reporter Andrew Pridgen at 881-1219 or apridgen@nevadaappeal.com.