Town swings for the fences

FORDYCE, Neb. — Many small towns have let their baseball and softball fields fall into disrepair.

Not so this Cedar County village. Fordyce is committed to baseball and softball.

For many years, for example, the local Catholic parish has approved the operation of a baseball field on the parish grounds.

This past season, nine youth teams — with girls and boys ages 6 to 14 — collaborated their scheduling of practice and games on the one diamond. It was a juggling act.

One more field would help immensely for practice, games and tournaments.

But a new field would come at a high cost — almost more than this small community of 182 residents can afford. Preliminary estimates indicate that a 210-foot softball field would cost about $33,000.

An informational meeting was held Sunday evening to explore several topics, such as the location of a second field, fundraising, community interest and grant possibilities.

Several adults have been spearheading the proposal.

They said they have been considering a grant application. The village would be responsible for matching the grant up to 25 percent.

“I feel it is one thing Fordyce does for the kids, keeping summer sports available,” said Don Whitmire, youth baseball coach.

Whitmire, a former Wayne State baseball player, has hosted a foundation baseball camp in Fordyce in recent years. The camp has been a profitable way to fulfill the needs of all the youth teams.

It won’t be the first time the town has spent money for a summer upgrade.

In the last two years, the town has provided financial and physical support for the ballplayers by allowing the coaches to install an indoor batting cage and a pitching bullpen in the basement of the town hall.

“It might bring young people into the town who would think it was a good place to live,” Whitmire said. “It would show the town cares about their young people.”