The Craig County “Field of Dreams” will be the site of the annual Alumni Games for baseball and softball this Saturday, June 29. Gates open at noon and the games start at 1 pm.
The Field of Dreams is an ongoing project of the Craig County Recreation and Conservation Association(CCR&CA) and great strides have been made at the facility on Old Railroad Avenue, just past Craig County High School. The four field project now has a completed concession stand with restrooms included at the hub of the complex.
“We finally finished the Concession Stand with restrooms on both ends, thus a commercial septic system was needed and quite a project,” said Debbie Snead, who has been involved with the project since its’ inception. “So, with the septic, water, electric and a well for watering the fields, we have completed all our infrastructure!”
There is also a new pavilion down by the creek and a terrific new children’s playground.
“The playground is a lifesaver for parents attending games with small children,” said Snead. “The Child Care Center helped with grants for both projects. Zack Taylor is doing our maintenance and mowing, and doing a great job. He takes a lot of pride in his work.”
Craig County’s Sherri Sloss is the Sports Director for the county and she’s excited about the progress that has been made. The fencing on the fourth and final baseball field was recently completed, so now all four fields have fencing.
“We are still needing to build dugouts and the infield,” said Sloss regarding the fourth field. “And we are working toward completing our very first football/soccer field. Now that fencing has been put up for the fourth field we can set pins for the football/soccer field.”
Craig already has combination football-soccer goals ready to be installed.
“Once the field is laid out and four pins are installed we can put those up,” said Sloss. “Craig Botetourt Cooperative has agreed to help with digging of the holes.”
This fall Craig will have 8U and 10U football and, for the first time in 10 years, Craig will field a 13U team. Close to 50 kids have already signed up to play recreation football.
Heather Stover was the director for the recently completed softball and baseball seasons. Teresa Oliver is the CCR&CA President and she does a terrific job.
“Two other CCR&CA members that help tremendously with fund raising and coaching are Morgan Ouelette and Emily Anderson, as well as lots of volunteer moms, dads and coaches,” said Snead. “I don’t know a lot about sports, my job is finding funds to pay for all this.”
The “Field of Dreams” has been an ongoing project since 2007 and, with hard work from members of the community and contributions from concerned businesses and individuals it has become a diamond of the county. Four diamonds, in fact, and it continues to grow.
