Improvements underway at softball/baseball complex

Photo by Randy Moll Softball practice was under way on Friday while work continued on improvements to the ballfields at Gentry High School. Improvements are being made to the dugouts and to the spectator areas.
Photo by Randy Moll Softball practice was under way on Friday while work continued on improvements to the ballfields at Gentry High School. Improvements are being made to the dugouts and to the spectator areas.

GENTRY -- With softball and baseball practice underway, work is also underway to make improvements at the Merill Reynolds Memorial Complex at Gentry High School. Improvements include, new dugouts and fences, a concrete slab under the spectator area and netting overhead.

Diamond C Construction was awarded the contract for the work, and workers are hurrying to have things ready in time for the season, which begins next week.

Lance Nations, head girls' softball coach, said last week he didn't know if everything would be finished in time but was hopeful construction would be far enough along to use the facilities at the start of the season.

Gentry School Board, in October, approved a request to spend up to $122,647 to renovate and rebuild the dugouts, replace chain link fences with netting, put concrete pads from the gate entrance to and under the spectator seating area and possibly place a protective web over spectator seating areas to protect them during play. The plan includes moving the softball dugouts further back from home plate for added safety and to make additional room for seating. The district is including netting over the spectator seating area for safety, as well.

Reasoning for the improvements is for added safety for both players and spectators, as well as additional seating for spectators. Due to moisture and drainage issues, the softball field dugouts were rotting along the bottom, according to information presented to the board last fall. Cement pads under the dugouts and spectator areas is expected to resolve some of the drainage issues and also prevent fans from needing to walk through wet and often muddy gravel-covered areas to access the concession stand and seating.

And, district softball and baseball tournaments are scheduled to be held in the Gentry complex this season.

Sports on 02/24/2016