Lots of work is going on both inside and outside the gym. Currently, Evingham Site Excavation (ESE) is working on replacing the dugouts on the softball and soccer field. Another key to this project is the old grandstand. The grandstand has been there since before 1967. The grandstand also serves as the baseball backstop, which is the farthest from home plate in Section V, will be moved forward ten feet to not only allow more comfortable seating but also to decrease the distance catchers have to run to receive passed balls. The tennis courts will be resurfaced for community and school use  (Belfast has not had a tennis team since 2013, when it merged with G-V for one year).           

One of the biggest improvements coming to the athletic complex is brand new lights. The current lights have been on that field since the late 80’s and were placed on wooden poles and in concrete. However, over time, the concrete has held in water, which slowly began to short out the system. In the middle of the 2nd inning of a Walsh-Belfast baseball game last year, coach Derek Kenyon went to turn on the lights; however, most of the lights shorted out. After an hour and fifteen minute wait, the game was postponed. A temporary light pole was placed next to the scoreboard for soccer  and the pole behind the Belfast dugout was removed after baseball last year. Some of the poles that are standing are leaning pretty severely.

Another element of the renovations is the outside dugouts. The dugouts on the soccer fields are hazardous in the summer, as by soccer season the coaches are having to remove wasp nests from the dugouts. The boys team rarely sits in the dugout, but when there’s a delay due to weather, it helps. Part of the dugouts on the soccer field include the building where the scorekeepers sit during inclement weather. As a soccer bookkeeper, it is very difficult to see from inside the original building when it rains.

With the new dugouts, the scorekeeper’s building will be enclosed.ESE, the company working on our complex, has completed laying down the concrete for the soccer dugouts and is working on the lower softball dugouts as well. The gym is coming along very well: the concrete has been set and they are currently in the process of painting the ceiling; the red and white walls will remain the same color. The outside portion of the project should be done in time for soccer season, and the gym should finish by late October.