BELLEFONTE, Pa. (WJAC) — Last minute “touch-ups” are underway at the John Montgomery Ward Field at Governor’s Park in Bellefonte, in anticipation of the high school varsity baseball home opener on Tuesday.
After several months, the project's nearing completion. Wednesday saw the Bellefonte varsity baseball team practice on the new field for the first time.
The project also bringing along new dugouts, a new press box, new fencing along the first and third base sidelines, and a new drainage system.
The infield previously had drainage issues, where puddles of water would last for days after it rained. The new infield lets the water drain quickly.
"The old field was clay and the water would just sit for days," Bellefonte Mayor Buddy Johnson (R) tells 6 News. "The dugouts would flood. That dugout, the home dugout, was falling down, there were cinderblocks missing. It just didn’t look good. It didn’t feel good.”
On top of that, they shifted the outfield six degrees from right to left.
High school varsity baseball primarily use the field. But the American Legion, county summer league teams, and various tournaments use the field during the high school offseason.
The project was funded by a $1.1-million grant from then-State Senator Jake Corman (R).
The new dugouts will be dedicated to two former baseball coaches and a former student.
The field is named in honor of John Montgomery Ward, who attended the Bellefonte Academy in the early 1870s. At 13 years old, he went to what would later be called the Pennsylvania State University. While there, he helped jumpstart a baseball program and is often credited for developing the first curveball.
Bellefonte has a rich history of baseball, and the high school varsity coach tells us he hopes this project will help further the recognition of this area's sporting history.
"Bellefonte baseball has a tremendous history, well before I came around, there's been a ton of great players and coaches that have come through here," head coach Jon Clark tells 6 News. "And I think it's the program and baseball in general is kind of getting it's recognition now."
"It's going to be something people can really look forward to as the young guys, even the little-leaguers," Bellefonte varsity baseball outfielder and pitcher Trevor Johnson says. "If they come out here and they see that, they can say that's something, they can set that goal, and say that's something I really want to shoot for and strive for."
The Bellefonte Varsity Baseball home opener is scheduled for this coming Tuesday at 4:30pm vs. Mifflin County.
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