DERRICK CITY — Bradford Regional Little League is striving to revamp its facilities in Derrick City, and is looking for the community’s help to do it.
The nonprofit organization, which operates seven fields across McKean County, was donated the formerly-named Scott Field facility and has big plans for the space — some of which are already underway after taking ownership of the property earlier this year.
“We want to rebuild this complex,” BRLL vice president Matt Woodhouse said. “We own it, we can do what we want with it, and this will never go away. Every other field in this area can be turned into something else, like a parking lot. Not this place.”
Work has already begun on new block dugouts on one of the fields (pictured above) with the help of several local businesses.
“Kessel Construction actually donated some of their guys to come down and pour these pads for us,” Woodhouse said. “And then Hanson Concrete out of Allegany, New York cut the price down on the concrete for us to make it more affordable. Kessel is also donating metal for the roof for the dugouts.”
But the work isn’t stopping there. BRLL also hopes to revamp the softball field, which Woodhouse says is in “pretty bad shape.” Future work is also planned on roads at the site, as well as fencing and upgrades to the concessions and bathrooms.
Businesses or individuals interested in sponsoring at any BRLL field to help defray those costs are asked to contact Curt Wallace at 814-362-2000 for details and advertising packages.
With the renovations — as well as the renewed efforts to support youth baseball and softball from the organization — Woodhouse and marketing volunteer Lou Costa hope that the community follows suit soon after.
“This used to be a baseball community before it became a football town and all that,” Costa said. “A lot of the families and the guys (on the board) grew up here.”
“This is meant to be a community thing. Most people in our community know that the Derrick City field had kind of gone to the wayside a little bit. Everybody who is our age (35 or around there) knows this is a pretty important place. So this is a cool, little thing for people to see rejuvenated.”
Costa and Woodhouse said they are looking for community members to help the league in anyway they can. Volunteers are needed for a variety of roles on a nightly basis, but even people coming to the diamonds to cheer on the youngsters is something BRLL hopes the renovations will encourage.
“We want people to know that we need support,” Costa said. “Give your time, put your kid in the league. That’s what is lacking right now.”
Costa said that BRLL currently has around 400 families associated with its league that has additional fields in Bradford, Custer City, Lewis Run, West Branch, Eldred and Otto. And even if that number doesn’t substantially increase with the upgraded facilities, it should boost morale and enthusiasm with those already involved with it.
“Even if it doesn’t get more kids, the kids that are in the league have a nicer field to play on,” Woodhouse said. “For those kids that want to come out and play baseball, we are going to give you some nice fields to play on.”
Weather permitting, Monday, Apr. 29 is the target date for the 2019 season to begin.
“(This league) got started with Coach Scott and Coach Manning,” Costa said. “The community got together and built a baseball field. All we are trying to do is revamp that.”
