HUNTINGTON -- When word spread that school consolidation would likely require land be taken from the old Cammack School ball field, many people went to work to make sure area youths would have a place to play baseball.
The fruits of that work will be on display this weekend, when Little League 3 will play its first games on two new fields during opening day. Games are scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Getting the new, $1.8 million facility took a lot of searching, negotiating, planning and fundraising. The process involved everyone from the children to legislators.
Coaches and volunteers began searching for a new site and making plans in 2005, according to Todd Shell, a Little League 3 coach. Building on the new facility began June 1, 2007.
League 3 previously played at the Cammack school baseball fields, but consolidation and construction forced the league to relocate. The new fields are located at the intersection of 7th Street West and Memorial Boulevard in Huntington.
Shell called League 3 a "cornerstone of the Southside community" during baseball season. The league has been around since the 1950s and is one of the area's oldest.
David Glick, who has been in the league since it started at Cammack, agreed. Glick has been the manager of the Neighborgall team since 1966. He said seeing the new fields is "bittersweet."
"I'm excited about this new facility. I have told my kids they're going to get the same opportunity that I had," he said. "They'll be able to look back 10, 20, 30 or 40 years down the road and say they played this field the very first year it was in existence."
If so many people in the community hadn't come together to create the new fields, League 3 would have had to join another league, said John H. Brunetti, who coaches with Shell and is manager of the Goldsmit-Sydnor team.
"Whenever you consolidate leagues, you lose kids in the league, wherever you are," he said.
That was a risk no one wanted to take, he said.
The project was a success thanks to various efforts. Some young players walked door-to-door to raise funds, many individuals and businesses made donations of all sizes, and widespread support came from local and state government, Brunetti said. Shell said the work of many volunteers and even donations like that of land from the fields' neighbor, Darco International, are much appreciated.
"They all recognize that this ball park is going to affect the whole district really for baseball. It's providing us a championship site," Brunetti said.
Shell also said the fields likely will bring more people to the area, and the league is hosting several tournaments this summer.
He said the fields also have lights, something uncommon in Little League. The lights were possible because of funds received from a Major League Baseball grant.
Brunetti said keeping a league going takes a lot of good parents and volunteers, and the programs are important to the community.
"These things help a lot of kids, and it's an easy program to get involved in," he said.
Glick also said it's all about the youth.
"The most important thing in Little League is for the kids to have fun," he said.
Shell said about $100,000 is still needed for the project, and more information about donations can be found at www.saveleague3.com.
Other information is available at www.littleleague3.com.
By LAURA WILCOX
The Herald-Dispatch
lwilcox@herald-dispatch.com
HUNTINGTON -- This weekend many local youths are looking forward to playing on a brand new baseball field.
The boys of Little League 3 will be the first to play on two fields located near the intersection of 7th Street West and Memorial Boulevard in Huntington.
Several Southside Elementary fifth-graders have been playing baseball for years and are especially excited to play the sport this weekend.
Jack Brunetti, 10, who usually plays infield, said what he likes most about the sport is playing with his friends.
Jay Bowen, 11, also loves playing with his friends. He said the new field is much nicer than the previous one at Cammack Elementary School.
"I like the way the field's made," he said, and added that the facility has a better mound and more shade.
Khalil Cooper, 12, also loves playing with friends and batting. He said the new facility has another bonus -- two batting cages.
Nathan Booth, 11, said he likes the new dugouts and the concession stand. And when it comes to the sport, he's not afraid to say he likes victory.
"I like winning. I like playing and being with my friends. You run around and have fun," Booth said.
Huntington Middle School eighth-grader Luke Hubbard used to be in Little League 3, and hopes to get back into baseball next year. He also said the new fields look good. Hubbard used to play in the league at Cammack, and continues to watch the league's games.
"It's fun to watch everybody else play," he said.
Huntington Middle students Luke Knake, 12, and Will Williams, 11, also said the new fields are an obvious improvement.
"They're bigger and have better dugouts," Knake said.
Williams agreed, and said the games might be a little different because the Cammack fields were small and it seemed easier to hit the ball.
He's also excited about being the first to use the new grounds.
"I think it's kind of cool because it'll probably be our home field, kind of, because we're the first teams to be on it," Williams said.
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