When Hollister’s young sluggers step up to the plate next year
they’ll be slamming home runs and rounding the bases on newly
renovated fields.
Hollister – When Hollister’s young sluggers step up to the plate next year they’ll be slamming home runs and rounding the bases on newly renovated fields.
The three baseball fields at the Veterans Memorial Sports Complex are in the midst of a makeover, which will include new grading, grass, infields and irrigation. It’s the first major renovation the fields have had in about four decades, according to Hollister Little League President Joe Tonascia.
“Over time, things get out of whack,” he said, adding that a major problem is that the fields don’t drain properly when it rains.
After three years of fundraising, the local Little League, put together a “good chunk” of the $150,000 to $180,000 that it will take to complete the renovation, which will ultimately include lighting for one field and a new score booth, according to Tonascia. The lights and the score booth will likely come later with further fundraising efforts, he said.
New grading for the fields started two weeks ago and should be finished by the end of the week, he said, adding that the irrigation portion of the renovation should begin by Monday. The fields need to be ready for play by the time the new season starts in March.
“If the weather stays on our side, we should be in pretty good shape,” Tonascia.
During the season, which lasts from March to October, the fields get a lot of use – with about 12 games per field each week, he said.
While he said the makeover is long overdue, according to Tonascia that the condition of the aging fields hasn’t affected the quality of Hollister’s Little League program, in which about 650 local kids participate.
“We’re the big dogs on the block. Everybody wants to knock us off,” he said. “We pretty much dominate the district.”
The district Hollister is in stretches from King City to Hollister, he said.
Tonascia said that Hollister Little League teams of all ages have wiped-up the competition at district all-star tournaments for the last six or seven years. In fact, he said, it often comes down to Hollister teams playing against one another.
The secret of success for Hollister teams is widespread community support, Tonascia said, adding that San Benito High School players and coaches also give their time to working with the little leaguers.
“We have so much community support,” he said. “Anything we can do to help the kids get better, we help them out and sponsor it.”
The Little League will hold its first round of sign-ups Tuesday Nov. 22 at Straw Hat Pizza on San Felipe Road at 6:30pm.
Luke Roney covers local government and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected]
