Safety concerns lead to ballfield upgrade

By CRAIG REMSBURG


Senior Sports Writer


MARQUETTE — Safety concerns have led Marquette Little League officials to renovate baseball Field No. 3 at the North Marquette Athletic Complex.


Together with the construction of a new batting cage and work on existing bullpen areas, the total cost of the project is $11,450.


League president Herman Eleby said Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is funding the batting cage. The remaining cost is being covered by the league, primarily through candy and apparel sales.


Marquette Fence Co. Inc. is doing the work.   


Fencing is being replaced on both sides of the Major League (ages 11-12) backstop behind home plate. It will increase the height of the protective covering from 10 feet to 20 feet at a cost of $3,750.


“We’ve had a couple of recent incidents where individuals in the stands have been hit by foul balls,” Eleby said. “We’re trying to increase the safety there.”


In addition, the league has lost numerous balls over a fence at an adjacent apartment complex and in a low-lying area south of the field where water ponds.


“Foul balls go into the water and become soaked, too wet to use again,” Eleby said. “We spent $4,500 alone for balls last year and are normally able to carry enough balls over into the next year for practice.


“This year, we practically had no balls left to use and had to purchase more. We’re trying to prevent that.”


Assistant coach of the Marquette Elks Greg Stone is glad to see the new fencing.


“It will save on people’s car insurance,” he said. “A lot of cars (parked nearby) take a beating out here on foul balls.”


Fencing 55 feet long on both sides of the diamond along the two bullpen areas is being increased in height to eight feet in order to protect pitchers warming up. The cost is $2,350.


“We’re just closing that area off to balls (crashing) against the playing field fence,” Eleby said.


Said Stone: “The old bullpen area didn’t really have a (protective) fence. It was just a tarp that was used to ... protect pitchers warming up from the live action on the field.


“With the new fencing, you won’t have to worry about kids getting hit by a foul ball.