To turn a phrase, with Hollister Little League the lights are on
and the kids are playing ball.
To turn a phrase, with Hollister Little League the lights are on and the kids are playing ball.
Though renovations of Veterans Park in regards to Hollister Little League’s three fields and the adjacent Hollister Heat field are not quite done, there is plenty for hard-working league Board Members, dedicated parents, umpires and players to be proud of.
The greatest addition, especially when one talks cash cost, is the lights on Field 2 and Field 3. Thanks to a generous grant from the county, there is night Little League baseball at Vets with games on Friday and Saturday nights.
Cost for all the lights, according to Hollister Little League President and Equipment Manager Craig Vallejo is $200,000, all of which is paid for by the county.
The lights, which were installed last year, but not implemented, are just part of the renovations of what Vallejo called a “two-year project:”
New fencing and a new backstop for Field I and a new backstop for Field 3 have been installed. Backstops run from anywhere to $4,000 for the one put in at Southside School for a practice field to $10,000 for the Field 2 backstop thrown together last season. There is a plan to install a backstop at R.O. Hardin Elementary for a price tag of $13,000.
In order to protect fans who are purchasing food at the snack bar from being hit by foul balls, an awning was attached to the snack bar.
All scorer’s booths, snack bars, bleachers, etc. have been painted ballpark green with gold trim. Last year, a regulation fence was erected in all the outfields, also painted green and trimmed in gold.
All three fields have foul poles for each foul line.
Last season, the dugouts were torn out and sunk on Field 3 at a fairly steep cost.
Batting cages are almost ready for use behind Field 3, finished, perhaps, in a week.
Decor for the picnic tables between Field 2 and Field 3 has been added, including a silhouette sculpture with an umpire, catcher and batter.
Last season, asphalt was laid to replace the gravel dirt which often kicked up dust and rocks when kids ran on it to chase after foul balls.
It is safe to say that all the renovations, which might run to the tune of $50,000 of Hollister Little League’s money, are the major reasons that Vet’s Park will play host to the 25-team Majors Tournament of Champions June 20-26 and the five-team Section 5 9-10 All-Star Tournament, which starts July 19. Two more sets of bleachers will be rented from somewhere for the tournaments.
“I’m very proud of what has been done here,” said Vallejo. “The Board worked extremely hard and so many people contributed. There was a lot of labor done here.”
The league benefited from labor and equipment from Granite Construction, which was instrumental in laying the blacktop. Hollister Little League paid for the materials. Donated cost estimated at $40,000.
Graniterock was another big contributor.
Robert Fabing, the Majors League rep, has been involved with the league five years.
“There has been 100 per cent improvement as far as the fields go,” said Fabing. “Before the blacktop it was a dust bowl here. The lights are great for the kids. They know it’s a special kind of game for them. And balls don’t get lost in the lights. They’re very bright. For me, though, the fencing is the biggest addition.”
“I think the blacktop is the biggest thing we’ve added,” stated league Vice-President Steve Ferranti. “There was so much dust when the kids ran on it. But what’s important is that parents see the money put back into the fields and that it’s for the kids.”
The kids have had a lot to do with raising funds for field renovations. In late February, the league held a Bat-a-thon, where players hit for distance to raise money. This year, Skills Drills were added, where players could show off their baseball skills, such as competition in running and throwing.
“About 80 per cent of all the kids in the league participated and they loved it,” said Vallejo. “My kids wanted to know what we’re going to do next year. We raised $26,000, $6,000 more than we did last year.”
Vallejo is as excited as the players and seems to be the leader in improving Vet’s Park. His next idea is to build a room around the scorer’s booth at Field 2 for meetings and equipment storage. Then he’d build raised bleachers, not unlike Willow Glen Little League Field in San Jose, site of the District V Majors All-Star Tournament, so fans could look down on the game.
“That’s where I got the idea,” said Vallejo. “I like that. It’s just one of my ideas. I don’t know if everyone will like it, but I do.”
Whatever the case, the Vet’s Park Little League fields are the talk of District 9. When the TOC’s are held this summer, many players, coaches and fans of District 9 teams will be laying eyes on the Hollister Little League fields for the first time.
“These are the best three fields in district 9 for fields, snack bar and grounds,” said Fabing. “No one is even close.”
And its the Boys of Summer who reap the bounty, playing ball to just about bedtime on weekends.
