Fields
of Dream
The
city of Genesee is getting two ball fields after planning for nearly a decade. The
Genesee recreation department, the Genesee school district and the city decided
the current configuration wasn’t working, so they decided to make some improvements.
The
goal is to create the two ball fields and a parking lot for those fields
hopefully before softball season in spring 2015, said Art Lindquist, Genesee
recreation department commissioner. The softball fields will cost around
$250,000, Lindquist said.
“We’ve
been raising money for years, and we finally have enough to build the fields,
so we decided it’s time,” he said.
The
baseball and softball teams suffered because there was only one field to share
between 14 teams. The high school girl’s softball team had to share the field
with the high school boy’s baseball team, said Kelly Thompson, the Genesee high
school girl’s head coach.
“We
practiced mostly in the grass of the baseball and football field,” Thompson
said. “We barely got any time on the infield and sometimes our first time on
the infield was in our games.”
Games
weren’t easy either, Thompson said. The team traveled to Lewiston for all of
their games the last several years. Even with the adversity, the team managed
to make five state tournaments, winning two and finishing in second place three
times, in the five years with Thompson as their coach.
“The
city is so supportive that they’ve traveled to watch us in Lewiston,” she said.
“If the fields are ready in the spring, I hope more people will attend because
they won’t have to trek to Lewiston to watch us.”
For
Kelly Caldwell, Genesee high school principal, the championships aren’t why he
supported the creation of the new ball fields.
It
is about equity, Caldwell said. The recreation department started working, and
Caldwell knew creating softball and little league fields was the top priority.
“Championships
or not, we need to provide equity for our teams and our players,” he said. “I’m
happy that they will finally be able to practice on their own field, and they
can play home games at home, instead of Lewiston.”
With
14 teams sharing a field, there was almost never time for teams to have the
field alone, said Tammy Stout, Genesee activities association treasurer and
youth baseball coach and youth softball coach.
Just
like the high school softball team, the little league teams almost never
practiced fielding in the infield. The kids would get terrified of ground
balls, Stout said.
“With
two fields, softball can have their own, and little league can have their own,”
Stout said. “I think getting more practices will be the biggest benefit for the
kids.”
According
to censusreporter.org, 34 percent of Genesee’s population is under the age of
20. The organized sports aren’t the only people who use the fields, so the new
ball fields will be great for everyone, Lindquist said.
In
the long run, the recreation department wants to add more than just the two
softball fields, Lindquist said.
“Right
now, the football field and baseball field share space,” he said. “We hope to
build a standalone football field with a track wrapped around it, and we want
to give baseball their own field too.”
The
goal is to add the football field and track combination and the standalone baseball
field within the next ten years. The cost of the whole project, which includes
the two fields currently being built, will be around $1 million, Lindquist
said.
“We’re
working on finding grants and fundraising for the football and baseball fields,
but for now they will have to wait,” he said. “We’re excited to have new fields
for softball and little league because we want them playing here at home.”
-30-
Outline: The city of Genesee is getting two new ball fields
after having one baseball field for 14 teams to share. Three city groups have
been planning and fundraising for a decade to build new fields. The end goal is
to have a new football field, baseball field, a softball field and a little
league field.
-30-
Story Pitch:
Two Sentence Explanation: After years of waiting and asking for
money, the Genesee Recreation Department is finally getting some adequate play
fields. They are adding two softball fields, and in the future (hopefully) a
standalone baseball field and a standalone football field.
Evidence: I wrote a story about this earlier in the Summer when
they initially had the money approved for the play fields back in July. The
softball fields are in the process of being built. They hope to add the
football and baseball fields in the future.
Why Now: The city of Genesee has needed these fields for awhile,
so this story is relevant no matter what part you cover. The reason for me is
they want the fields ready and playable by the Spring when the softball team
returns. The softball team (if I remember correctly) has won the State
Championship in back-to-back years. Now they will finally have a field that is
at their level of play.
Interviews: I’ve talked to Art Lindquist the Genesee Recreation
Department Commissioner. Since my initial talk with him to check in, I haven’t
been able to get him back. The reason that is important is I’m hoping to
interview one of the coaches and a softball player about the new fields and
what it will mean to them. I was hoping to get a name suggestion from Art, so
when I called it wasn't a surprise for the coach and player. My fourth
interview I’m not sure whom I’ll go after, but I’ll find someone.
Format: Print, 500-600 words
-30-
Sources:
Art Lindquist: 208-310-9046
Kelly Thompson: 208-413-4911
Kelly Caldwell: 208-285-1162
Tammy Stout: 208-305-4711; 208-285-1679
I didn't get a video of a source, which I talked to you about the likelihood of that happening. I'd be happy to discuss that matter further if you'd like.
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