Visitors from points beyond such as Ripon, Modesto, Tracy and
Manteca, who will be flocking to Vets Park for the District 1 15
year-old Babe Ruth All-Stars Tournament this weekend, probably
won’t know the difference between the new park and the old
park.
Visitors from points beyond such as Ripon, Modesto, Tracy and Manteca, who will be flocking to Vets Park for the District 1 15 year-old Babe Ruth All-Stars Tournament this weekend, probably won’t know the difference between the new park and the old park.
Anyway, the changes have been taking place for the past three years, according to current San Benito County Babe Ruth League President and Board Member Dr. Ken Kovanda.
“I started six years ago to have new lights put in three years ago,” said Kovanda. “The county foot the bill for 50 grand. Then we bought a new lawnmower two years ago for eight grand. Someone stole our golf cart which we use to drag the field. We had to replace that for $1,200. And we didn’t have any money three years ago.”
Monies coming into the league are generated from league signups, snack shack sales (about $7,000-8,000 a year) and the sponsored signs which align the outfield fence. While at the park on Tuesday, Kovanda counted all of the 4-feet by 8-feet signs.
There were forty-five at $150 a pop, $200 for the first year.
“We used to have 70 signs out there,” said Kovanda, flashing back some.
Thanks to great work from Vice-President Robert Hopkins and head groundskeeper Joey Escamilla, the park has never looked better.
“It’s the best ballpark of any tournament sites,” said Kraig Klauer, coach of the SBC 14 year-old All-Stars. “By far.”
Some of the more recent additions have been a new backstop and fencing, along with pads; new PA speakers; artificial turf on the outskirts of each dugout; a redone infield; and five donated poles for the hanging of an awning over the grandstand behind home plate.
“As soon as we can afford one, we’ll get one,” said Kovanda of the awning.
There are plans to reseed the outfield next year.
With rabid fans of four out-of-town teams coming, Kovanda expects big crowds this weekend, which means more money in the till.
SBC 15 year-old star manager Scott Flaherty wants the local fans to come out in droves.
“There really isn’t that much support at our games,” said Flaherty. “I’m putting out a call for baseball fans to come out and watch our team. It will be great for us. We won’t have to travel or spend three hours in a car in the heat. We get to sleep in our own beds. This is a great park. It’s nearly the size of PacBell.”
“I love playing at this park,” said 15 year-old All-Star James Macfarlane. “It’s going to be a great tournament.”
And just to show there is no bracket-rigging, the team with the bye is not the team putting on the tournament, a rare sight in tournaments of any kind.
“I went to the meeting in Tracy and someone was sitting in the chair I usually sit in,” said Kovanda. “He drew two byes in two of the tournaments and I said to him, ‘That’s because you’re sitting in my lucky chair.'”
This SBC 15 year-old team probably won’t need luck to win this tournament. They are that good. So is the park they play in.
