These photos show the before (bottom) and after (top) phases of the renovation to the Bunsold Middle School baseball-softball fields. The project was funded by the Marwysville High School baseball program and the team’s Diamond Club.
(Photos submitted)
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A pair of ball diamonds that are important to the continued success of the Marysville High School baseball and softball programs has undergone a face lift over the past few months.
The fields at Bunsold Middle School have been renovated, thanks to a $12,000 donation made by the high school baseball team and its booster organization, the Diamond Club.
“We wanted to revitalize both of those diamonds,” said MHS head baseball coach Mark Brunswick. “We consider the baseball program to be for grades 7-12 and wanted to do something to upgrade both of those fields for baseball and softball at Bunsold.”
Brunswick stressed that no taxpayer money was used to refurbish the fields.
“The money that we put into the project came from our baseball program’s fund raisers,” he said.
The project included the following upgrades:
-The entire baseball infield was sodded;
-A wind screen was put around the entire complex to include both diamonds;
-Spectator bleachers have been put in place at both fields;
-Black netting has been placed in both backstops;
-New bullpens have been installed at both fields;
-A temporary fence has been placed in the baseball outfield. The dimensions are 285 feet down the left and right field fences and 310 to dead center field;
-Red crushed brick top soil has been added to both fields.
“All of these improvements were approved by the board of education,” said Brunswick. “We have some other upgrades in mind for the future, but they will be pending approval by the board.”
The Bunsold diamonds will be used by the school teams from February through the first week of May.
After that, the fields will be used (for a rental fee) by teams from the Marysville Mitts from May through July.
The contract between the school district and the Mitts organization will run for seven years.
The Mitts will reportedly pay $20 for two or more hours of usage and $10 for less than two hours.
“We want those fields to be used,” said Brunswick. “This is also going to help give more space to summer ball teams.
“I think this is something that people wanted to do here over the years,” he said. “This is going to create excitement for baseball and show people what direction we want the program to go.”
All of the work, which began in the middle of August and was finished in late November, was completed by volunteers from the high school and Bunsold coaching staffs, along with Mitts coaches.
“The kids are excited to see all of the improvements,” said Bunsold athletic director Jessica Parthemore. “This is going to give them a wonderful place to practice and play and I think it will generate additional interest and players to our programs.
“Marysville is a rich baseball and softball community,” she said. “This will make our Bunsold diamonds a premier location for kids to play baseball and softball.”
The Bunsold school building opened in 2008 and the diamonds were installed a year later, according to Parthemore.
This project marks the first real renovation done to either field, she said.
“This is a great joint agreement between the school and the Mitts,” said Brunswick. “It is just fantastic that we have formed this partnership.”