Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 14, 1994 TAG: 9407210049
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By KAREN DAVIS SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The project is the renovation of Patrick Henry High School's baseball field.
The intention, said Monahan, is to ``bring baseball back to Patrick Henry, to bring that team spirit back and encourage more kids to attend the games.''
At present, players are bused to Maher Field on Reserve Avenue for home games. Students who turn out for team support must arrange their own transportation to the off-campus field.
The field at Patrick Henry, named Edwards Field after the late Judge Richard Thomas Edwards, a Roanoke judge who was instrumental in establishing the athletic field, has been used for practice for the past several years, Monahan said. As a result, the fencing and facilities have fallen into disrepair.
``The dirt infield had lots of rocks, and kids were getting hurt playing there,'' Monahan said.
Along with many others, Monahan, whose son, Evan, plays baseball on the varsity team, thought something needed to be done.
``Last baseball season, I would listen to comments by coaches, kids and parents, and it seemed to me that we needed to channel those ideas into some positive action,'' Monahan said.
So she invited a core group of parents to meet at her house and brainstorm ``about what we would like to see happen.''
As a result, they formed a Baseball Booster Club as an auxiliary of the Patrick Henry Athletic Boosters Club, met with school officials and drew up plans to improve the field conditions, buy new baseball equipment and possibly add more coaching staff. ``One thing we all really wanted was a grass infield instead of dirt,'' Monahan said. But the field needed some grading and good quality dirt first. And finding just the right dirt mixture suitable for a ball field - 30 percent clay and 70 percent sand - proved difficult and expensive, about $2,000 for 150 tons.
``We hunted and hunted for good quality dirt,'' Monahan said. And when they finally found some, ``I never thought I could get so excited over 150 tons of dirt,'' she said, when it was delivered.
The dream is nearing reality. Monahan expects sod to be laid on the infield within the next six weeks.
``Our goal is to get the field in shape for home games by next season,'' Monahan said. A dedication ceremony is planned for March or April.
Renovations so far have cost approximately $10,000, Monahan said. The Roanoke City Schools administration, through its regular maintenance budget, provided funding for the grass infield, dugout roofs and new baseball equipment.
The Baseball Booster Club raised about $4,300 washing cars, selling 400 dozen doughnuts and soliciting corporate and individual donations.
Community and corporate support has been positive, Monahan said. ``I've been amazed at how much I've gotten simply by asking.''
Bill Coleman, president of Blue Stone Block Masonry Supermarket in Roanoke, told her, ``If you can raise money for one dugout, we'll furnish the materials for the second one.''
They did. Two cinder-block dugouts are under construction to replace the dilapidated benches players used to sit on.
Harry French, a parent and volunteer coach, built the forms for the concrete footers, and fathers and sons turned out on a Saturday to help lay the foundation for the cinder blocks. Otis Rhoaten, father of a Patrick Henry student, agreed to lay the blocks.
``Participating in the building and fund raising has given the parents, players and everyone involved that much more reason to be proud of what they've done. This is their project and their dream, too,'' Monahan said.
As part of a product vending agreement, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Roanoke contributed a $14,000 electronic scoreboard, which will be installed in September or October.
Although Monahan expects the renovated field to be in use by next baseball season, some night games still will be played on Maher Field ``because they have lights there,'' she said.
Future fund-raising efforts may aim to add permanent bleachers and upgrade the fencing around the field, Monahan said.
The booster club continues to raise money by selling 4-by-8-foot advertising signs along the fence around the baseball field. The signs initially cost $250 and include a $150-per-year renewal option.
Monahan said her interest in the project stems from a family history of baseball participation. Her grandfather was captain of his local Elks Club team and later managed the Colts, a farm team in Falls City, Neb.
``My fondest memories are going to the ball field with my Dad to watch the Kansas City Athletics play,'' she said. That was before the A's moved to Oakland, Calif. ``I got to see legends like Mickey Mantle play.''
She's still a Kansas City fan. And she still wants to see baseball at Patrick Henry share an equal spotlight with the other school sports.
``The recent focus has been on basketball, football and track,'' Monahan said. ``By improving the baseball program in general, we hope to equalize that focus a little.''
by CNB