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Posted Aug 7/12 - New Field a Dream for Little League Championships

Edmonton Sun August 7/12

Story by Brian Swane

Photos by: CODIE MCLACHLAN/EDMONTON SUN

Photo: Hasting, B.C.’s Thomas Neal celebrates a run with coach Vito Bordignon during Little League Canadian Championship at John Fry Park on Monday.

It’s a phrase that’s become overused and a touch cliché.

Hollywood will tend to do that.

But there’s something innocent in it’s sentiment, that is as cherished as the grand old game itself.

“If you build it, they will come.”

That phrase, ingrained in baseball and the subconscious of movie lovers thanks to Field of Dreams, is playing out this week on the real life on canvas of John Fry Park, where a spectacular new diamond is playing host to six Little League teams from across the nation during the 2012 Little League Canadian Championship.

A former softball diamond in the northwest portion of the park has been converted to host the annual tournament that decides who goes to Williamsport, With the exception of the pressbox, everything from the bleachers to the fences are new, and there have been several significant additions to the diamond including lighting and bullpens.

“Personally, I think it’s an absolutely fantastic diamond. I really like the way that it’s holding out and how it’s set up,” says Wayne Sperling, director of the Championship and Edmonton Little League’s district administrator.

“I get a lot of compliments from district administrators out of town saying that this is one of the best parks that they’ve ever seen.”

An aspect that has particularly impressed is the playing surface itself, which has been regarded and received new irrigation.

“It’s the grass, it’s the drainage, it’s the way that it’s been shaped,” says Sperling.

“The base-paths, the infield, all that kind of stuff.”

Weather Tested

The diamond has already had it’s most severe test. A storm Saturday night poured rain down on John Fry Park and forced the suspension of a game between Mill Woods and Glace Bay.

Whereas some of the major storms that hit Edmonton previously this summer flooded other diamonds to the point that they could not be used for days afterwards, the Little Leaguers were back playing at John Fry the next morning.

When the host committee first began pursuing the Championship a few years ago, the plan was to have games at Tiger Goldstick Park, which had previously hosted the tournament in 1972 and 1989.

Eventually, though, focus shifted to John Fry Park, which offered amenities such as increased parking and space for vendors and portable toilets compared to Goldstick.

The City became heavily involved with the project, and completed renovations to the new diamond several weeks ago, despite problematic weather.

“We’ve had so much rain that we couldn’t get certain things done, but we’ve fortunately had windows where we were able to do it, we just had to be patient and this is the payoff,” says Warren Schacher, sports field supervisor with the city.

“I think the players are going to enjoy the field. It’s a great looking field, the facility is outstanding.”

Now that the diamond is built, the players are coming. And they’re going to keep coming

One of the things we’re hoping for is that Edmonton receives a legacy with this diamond for minor ball, and we couldn’t ask for a better facility on a national scale,” says Gerry Dawidowski of the host committee.

“I’ve been to some Canadian national championships, and this is maybe the best facility that I’ve seen.”

A Dozen Sox

The Mill Woods White Sox are back in the hunt after a convincing 12-6 win over Lethbridge Southwest All-Stars. The Sox capitalized on 10 Lethbridge errors for their first win of the tournament.

Matthew Coutney and Levi Muth each had two hits for the Sox, who broke the game opened a 7-1 lead by the third inning.

“We needed it,” says Sox coach Aaron Hansen. ”The fact that we beat the Prairies representative was kind of a treat … because that team beat us before and it’s nice to be able to go out there and be aggressive and play the game properly and come out with a win.”

 





 


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