Buckeye Local launches Legacy Fields Initiative

A fundraiser is underway at Buckeye Local High School to upgrade the baseball and softball fields on campus while honoring two major supporters.

Principal Luke Parsons said the Legacy Fields Initiative aims to raise $200,000 for the improvements. Officials hope to meet half that goal with the help of an area organization that plans to provide matching funds.

Parsons said about $5,450 has been raised so far, and the Kara W. Bright Foundation has pledged to match community funding dollar for dollar. Proceeds will help establish the Kara Bright Athletic Complex and update Mazeroski Field on the school campus.

“We wanted to update the softball and baseball fields, and we would rededicate the baseball field to Bill Mazeroski. The Kara W. Bright Foundation agreed and said they would give $100,000 if we raised $100,000,” Parsons said. “We’ve raised $5,450 so far through donations from the Yorkville VFW, Ohio Coatings, MarkWest and personal donors.”

Pittsburgh Pirates legend Bill Mazeroski was a local native and longtime district supporter who died in February. He grew up in the Rush Run area and attended Warren Consolidated High School, which is now part of Buckeye Local Schools. He is best known for his walk-off home run that gave the Pirates the World Series pennant in 1960. He played 17 seasons with the team and is regarded as one of the greatest second basemen in baseball history.

Kara Bright was a former Buckeye Local teacher and coach who later established the Brightway Center at his 180-acre Smithfield farm as a Christian retreat and activity center. He died in 2005, and the subsequent Brightway Foundation was later reorganized as the Kara W. Bright Foundation. The foundation has continued his legacy at Buckeye Local High School by funding improvements to Panther Gym, including new bleachers and a hardwood floor named Kara Bright Court. The school also has held the Kara Bright Classic in his honor.

Parsons said the fields have not received major improvements since they were built more than two decades ago. Plans may include new drainage, backstops, fencing, mounds, home plates and base systems.

Donations will be accepted through the high school, and a Panther Legacy Wall will be erected to recognize contributors. The wall will be prominently placed at the entrance to the complex. Giving levels include platinum for $10,000 or more, with donors receiving a large custom home plate plaque bearing their name and message; gold for $5,000 to $9,999, with donors receiving a medium glove plaque with their name and message; silver for $1,000 to $4,999, with donors receiving a standard baseball plaque with their name; and bronze for $250 to $999, with donors having their names engraved on a donor panel.

He said the contributions are not just for making improvements; they are an investment in the future.

“The heartbeat of any thriving community can be found in its willingness to invest in future generations. At Buckeye Local High School, we have a rare opportunity to transform not just physical structures, but the very spirit of our community through the revitalization of our athletic complex. The softball and baseball fields, which have nurtured countless young athletes over the years, now require significant upgrades to continue serving our students. This project represents more than facility improvements — it embodies our commitment to excellence, our respect for local heritage, and our belief that when we invest in our schools, we invest in the foundation of our community’s future.”

For more information or to support the Legacy Fields Initiative, contact the development team at lucas.parsons@buckeyelocal.net or 740-859-2196. Checks should be made payable to the Buckeye Local School District and mailed to Buckeye Local High School, c/o Legacy Fields Initiative, 10692 state Route 150, Rayland, OH 43943.