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Tiger Improvements

EHS baseball facility receiving much-needed upgrades

The Inter-Mountain photos by Brad Johnson Construction equipment rests at the Elkins High School baseball facility, where renovation work is underway.

ELKINS — Elkins High School’s baseball facility, which includes American Legion Post 29 Field, is continuing to receive needed upgrades this fall. Several improvements have been made already as the project continues to move through phases.

Community members and school personnel close to the project said they are thankful for the help received from local businesses and residents through donations of money, labor time, materials and more through fundraising participation.

The facility is home to the EHS baseball program, and is also a home field venue for Post 29 baseball games, along with being a hosting facility during the annual Hillbilly Hardball Tournament each summer. Elkins area Babe Ruth needs are also served at times by the facilities.

“What started with me volunteering to raise money to purchase bleachers for the visiting team’s fans soon grew into a nearly $100,000 four-phase plan to upgrade the Elkins High School baseball facilities,” said project coordinator Lisa Severino. “We have wonderful Little League and Babe Ruth complexes in our community, and I wanted the players and fans to experience the same pride and conveniences at Elkins High School. A committee was formed and a four-phase plan was implemented to upgrade the facilities at Elkins High School.”

During Phase I of the project, the home bleachers were improved and moved next to the field, a concrete pad was installed and bleachers were purchased for the visiting team’s fans, a gravel path was created through the complex and several drainage issues were addressed. Goals for phases II-IV consist of constructing a press box, paving the path, and installing a batting cage at the field.

Construction scaffolding points out work being done on the new press box and concession stand at the EHS baseball facility.

“Due to the cost of constructing a press box we decided to break its construction up into two phases,” Severino added. “We broke ground last December on the first phase, which consisted of running utilities to the site, and installing footers, drains and the building’s concrete pad. We went back to work raising funds to complete the second phase of construction.

“Funding for the second phase was spurred by an anonymous donor offering to match up to the next $10,000 in funds raised,” she said. “We held a prize basket bingo in March, which was a huge success thanks to the generosity of the community. With the success of the bingo, and some private donations, we were able to obtain the $10,000 matching funds. Construction of the press box started in the spring and the building is almost under roof.”

The building will house a press box on the top floor, restrooms in the rear of the building and a concession stand facing the field.

“The building is a tremendous addition for the Elkins High School baseball team, fans and visitors, and the view from the press box is amazing,” EHS Athletic Director Adam Roth said. “Todd Riggleman has announced the games the past couple of years from right field, utilizing binoculars and a wireless mic because the PA system needed to be elevated to function properly. Riggleman won’t need binoculars now to see the number of the player coming up to bat.”

“We will be able to move the score board operation out of the dugout and into the press box,” Tigers head coach Jack Crumm said. “It opens up a lot of new possibilities, such as filming the games.

“Hopefully, the games will be broadcast on the radio someday soon. Having the concession stand next to the field should increase sales, and parents working in the concession stand will have a good view of the game and the scoreboard.

“The most convenient feature of the building will be player access to the new and close-by restrooms,” Crumm pointed out. “Right now, the restroom facilities are too far from the field for players to utilize between innings, which has caused some problems.”

The committee is trying to raise an additional $20,000 to make sure the press box is fully functional, complete Phases III and IV of the project, and install a sign recognizing current and future donors.

Severino said, “We would love to raise the remaining funds this fall so that everything is complete for the 2017 season. We want to install sidewalks and pave the gravel path so that the complex is handicap-accessible and pedestrian-friendly. Unfortunately, if we don’t raise the funds in the next couple of weeks, paving plans will have to be put on hold. We have scaled back the plans for the batting cage at this point in order to help with costs.”

Regarding the batting cage, Crumm said, once it is completed it “will be a huge benefit for us during practice. Hitting and fielding will be able to occur at the same time and place, allowing for a more efficient and productive practice schedule for Elkins High School baseball, as well as American Legion baseball, who also use this field as their primary practice venue. Also, the addition of the batting cage will help our Babe Ruth program, which uses our facility as a secondary practice location, as well as for a second venue for tournaments.

“Elkins has a rich baseball history,” Crumm added. “I would love to see more donations made by more former players and their families.”

Donations for the project starting at $50, including material and in-kind labor donations, will be recognized on a sign at the field. Donations can be made anonymously, in your name, business name, or in honor or memory of a player, coach or baseball fan.

If you would like to make a donation, or increase a previous donation, please send a check made payable to the Elkins High School Boosters Club to Elkins High School, 100 Kennedy Drive, Elkins, West Virginia, 26241. Please note “Baseball Project” in the memo section of your check.

“We would like to thank everyone who has given to the project, whether it was $5, an item for the bingo, or attending one of our many fundraisers over the past few years,” Severino said. “It really has added up and brought us to the point where we are today. We hope the generosity continues so that we can complete the project.”

If you would like more information about the project, you may contact project coordinator Lisa Severino at 304-614-3454, coach Jack Crumm at 304-641-4662, or athletic director Adam Roth at 304-940-1394.

There are several levels of support available to offer toward completion of the project. The current list of those who have contributed follows:

SINGLE CLUB: Aaron’s; Rachel Anger; Anytime Fitness; AutoMedic; Axis Training, LLC; Scott and Lori Betler; Ann Blosser; Kevin Blosser Construction; Bob’s Automotive Repair; Burger King; Mike & Janie Burns; Kim Byrne; Tim and Beth Conklin; Crazy Harry’s; Ralph Currence; Durbin & Greenbrier Valley RR; Magistrate Rob Elbon; Elkins Bowling Recreation Center; Elkins Physical Therapy & Sports Injury Clinic; Elkins Physical Therapy Service; Curt Felton; Foto 1 Pro Photo; Freedom Bank; Gandy Dancer Theatre; General Rental; Glotfelty Tire Center; Hair Graphics; Steve and Nyke Himes; Sandy Hogan; House Hunters; JMB Sales & Service, Inc.; Tasha Phillips; Molly Propst; Salon Bumbi; Amy Schumacher; Wendy Smyton; S&T’s Bees; Steer Steakhouse; Cindy Stemple; Michelle Streets; Studio MK; Walter Thompson and Ross Thompson; Jeffrey and Donna Trulik; Merle Webley; Bryan and Kim White; Judge David H. Wilmoth; and Pete and Jeanine Zurbuch.

DOUBLE CLUB: Chris Belcher; Bob Evans; Susan Channell; Dairy Queen; Davis Trust Company; Elkins High School Athletic Department; Elkins High School Coaches; Jim and Marisa Gainer; Hometown Pizzeria; Richard and Pam Hudkins; H.W. Daniels Post 29 American Legion; Isner Law; Kentucky Fried Chicken; Gary and Gwen Kerns; Kingsford; Ronald and Merlyn La Neve; McDonald’s; Mountaineer Home Care Services; Papa John’s Pizza; Chris and Diana Patella in Honor of Nicholas Patella; Camille Phares in Memory of Genevieve “Genny” Davis; Residential Creations, LLC; Joe and Debbie Schmidlen; Ed Shaffer; The Old Brick Playhouse; The Wooden Hanger; Tractor Supply; Woodford Oil Company; and Paul Zickefoose.

TRIPLE CLUB: AES Laurel Mountain; Allegheny Insurance Company; Max and Johnnie Armentrout; Busch, Zurbuch and Thompson, PLLC; Neal “Skip” Collett; Jack and Lisa Crumm; Davis Medical Center; Elkins Babe Ruth; Elkins High School Alumni Association in Memory of Roy Simms; Elkins Kiwanis Club; Dan Hamrick; Voras and Lori Haynes; Ron Huffman; Barbara Lounsbury in Memory of Eleanor Ellis; Mountain Valley Bank, N.A.; Vincent and Nicky Petrice; Randolph County Board of Education; Jim and Lisa Severino; and Scott and Stephanie Teets.

HOME RUN CLUB: Applebees; Kevin and Delores Bonnell and Family; Elkins High School Boosters Club; Leslie Equipment Company; LifeTite Metal Products LLC; MegaCorp Logistics LLC; James “Tug” Ross; Scott Shepherd In Honor of Dr. Russ Shepherd; Snowshoe Foundation; Southern WV Asphalt, Inc./Central Supply; and Walmart.

GRAND SLAM CLUB: Thelma Gainer and Hess Oil Co Joint Venture in Honor and Memory of the Glenn Gainer Family; Greenfield Cabinetry, LLC; Donald and Camille Phares in Memory of Mike Phares; Randolph County Commission; and Mike Ross, Inc.

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