Final pitch being made for WHS turf project funding

The Wooster Baseball and Softball Field Improvement Committee has figuratively finished the eighth inning of its fundraising efforts to install artificial turf infields and is asking for the community to help close a winning project.

“We’re going to the ninth, and we’ve had tons of support, but we still have a couple big sponsorships out there that we need to fill,” Wooster baseball coach Steve Young said. “We have naming rights for both the baseball and softball fields available, as well as spots for sponsors to have on-field logos.”

The district has committed to contributing the last $150,000 for the project, and the committee has raised approximately $310,000. That puts the project about $75,000 short of the phase one minimum goal of $535,000 to install new turf baseball and softball infields, Young said.

“We’re very close,” Young said. “We’re under $100,000 left for what we need. Depending on our final numbers, that will determine which of two turf quotes we can go with. We appreciate each and every donation, but we’re really hoping that some businesses will step up.”

With baseball and softball practices underway, the committee is making a final push to get the turf project completed in the summer or fall and ready by next spring.

“We haven’t really been as public as we’d like,” Young said. “Everything is running through the Wayne County Community Foundation. There’s a link to donate on their website.”

The individual or corporate donations can be spread out over several years, which is an option several sponsors have already signed up for.

The improvement committee is made up of Young, softball coach Jimmy Williams, Athletic Director Alex Mallue, Carrie Becker, Tim Pettorini Jr., Ben Maibach, Joe Winge, Doug Johnson, Larry Poulson, Bobbi Douglas and Bill Gantz.

The committee has done extensive research on field turf and has concluded the addition of turf to both infields will significantly improve the overall experience for WHS baseball and softball student-athletes, as well as Wooster youth players.

The addition of turf will allow for more games to be played in poor spring weather, as many high school games are canceled each spring due to rain.

It also will allow Wooster to host OHSAA district/regional baseball and softball games, as well as youth games and tournaments during many months throughout the year.

Maintenance of natural grass/dirt infields on both fields costs the district a significant amount annually, and over the long run, artificial turf will be more cost-effective.

The turfed area of both fields will cover the entire area from the backstop to just beyond the bases, extending to the fences along the third and first base lines.

A turf baseball field should bolster Young’s program even more.

Wooster’s baseball team has won three straight Ohio Cardinal Conference titles and last season advanced to the program’s first regional in 25 years.

The softball team has never won an OCC title, but first-year coach Williams is working hard to make the Generals a contender and believes adding turf will be a game changer.

“Our ability to practice outside and play games in the early spring is tough in Northeast Ohio,” Williams said. “This will give us the ability to get outside from day one of practices in late February through the end of our season.

“We’ve got a ton of positive momentum right now with our softball program at Wooster. This starts at the youth level and goes all the way up through the varsity program. Providing a turf playing surface brings another level of excitement and energy to our program.”

Both Young and Williams said they’d look for ways to let youth and summer teams use the turf fields.

“What a great opportunity for these kids to continue growing their love of the game.” Williams said.

All funds raised for the project are on a donation basis. Donations can be made at the following levels: field naming rights, $75,000 for each field; on-field logo sponsorship, $35,000 for four spots on each field; grand slam, $20,000-plus for signage recognition; $10,000-$19,999 for home run (signage recognition); and many other donation categories down to $500.

Checks for the project can be sent and made payable to the Wayne County Community Foundation. The memo line can read WCS Baseball/Softball Field Improvements.

Online donations can be made at www.waynecountycommunityfoundation.org/funds/wooster-city-schools-baseball-and-softball-field-improvement-fund.

For more information on becoming a sponsor, email Maibach at Bmaibach@sssnet.com or Pettorini at Tpettorini@ralaw.com or call the WHS athletic office at 330-988-1111.