April 6 marked the beginning of a new future for the softball and baseball programs of Kalispell and the Flathead Valley. The days of playing on fields with massive holes caused by flooding and playing home games on away fields will soon be a mere myth to the FHS students a few years from now. The Kidsports organization plans to build five softball and five Little League fields with non-tax funds of $1.2 million, raised from the sale of the Daley and Haven fields. Kidsports has been working on the idea of a new complex for the past 10 years. “I think it’s great, not just because it’s going to be a top-notch complex,” said board member Robert Benson of Kalispell. “But we’ll be able to host tournaments that otherwise we couldn’t have because of poor facilities.” Current FHS baseball players are just a few years too old to play on the new fields. However, the Kalispell Pee-Wee, Babe Ruth, Youth Softball Association and the Kalispell Youth Soccer Association will benefit from the new fields planned for next spring. “We used to go to Canada for Pee-Wee games,” said senior Jarod Grubb. “We’d always be jealous of their fields, but we’d always kill them anyway.” The goal of Kidsports is to have new fields for soccer, softball and baseball, according to Benson. The Lakers may eventually play at the conplex, but the immediate benefit will be to younger athletes. “We’re hoping to have 26 fields in the next two years,” said Kidsports organization president Dan Johns. “It allows the kids to play on first class fields which we’ve never had.” Grass will be planted July 6 for the five softball and five Little League fields. All 10 fields should playable by next spring. “It will save parents time from driving their kids around if there are soccer and baseball games,” said sophomore Martin Schmidt. “If we take care of them (new fields), they’ll be nicer for the young’uns.” The future FHS baseball, softball and soccer participants will experience the full opportunity these fields have to offer, but the current players have to stick it through with the current fields. “It’s a good opportunity for the kids, of course,” said Grubb. “Now they should work on a legion field.” According to Johns, construction should begin within the next two weeks and the old fields around the Kalispell Airport will be eliminated. “I think it’s the greatest opportunity for families the Flathead Valley has ever seen,” said Johns, adding: “We have our work cut out for us, but this is a great start.” |
