The Sewanee Youth Ballpark is in need of repairs. The most pressing issue is that all of the ballpark lights need to be replaced. Each fixture has an antiquated liquid cooling system for the heat they emit. Those fixtures have exploded at other parks.

Dixon Myers, assistant director of the Office of Engagement and president of the Sewanee Parks Committee, reported that in 2018, the Duck River Electric Membership Corporation informed the committee there was a severe safety issue with the lighting system at the Sewanee Youth Ballpark. An incident occurred at another park in the county when their lighting system malfunctioned and created a potentially dangerous situation. Duck River immediately responded by checking all of the other similar lighting systems in their jurisdiction and terminating their usage. The Sewanee Youth Ballpark fell into that category.

At the ballpark, the lighting system is approximately 50-years-old. The Sewanee Parks Committee began communicating with Duck River concerning the new specifications needed to upgrade the system.

Approximately $43,000 is needed to replace the lighting system at the ballpark, according to Myers.

For years, both the Sewanee Little League and the Sewanee Youth Soccer organizations received funds from the Sewanee Community Chest to help with maintenance costs at the ballpark and other associated expenses. Those funds were no longer applied for when Sewanee Youth Soccer merged with the Franklin County Soccer Association in 2013, and the Sewanee Little League merged with Cowan Little League in 2015.

Myers said there is a number of ways people can get involved. One way is to donate.

Donations can be specified to the Sewanee Youth Ballpark. Mail those checks to the Office of Leases and Community Relations, 735 University Ave., Sewanee, TN 37383. Sallie Green has a special account for Ballpark donations that is separate from all other University accounts, Myers said.

Stepping up to issue a fundraising challenge is Sewanee resident Carl Hill. Hill recently went to a baseball game and heard about the problems at the ball field.

Hill played in Sewanee Little League starting in 1975, and then Babe Ruth until 1988. He managed the Babe Ruth from 1988-1995.

“We did not have T-ball back then. My momma taught me how to catch and throw, in the neighborhood. We always had pickup games at the elementary school, and games of catch. At the age of nine, I started playing Sewanee Little League,” he said.

“At that time, there were four teams, the Braves, the Giants, the Mets and the Red Sox. Three of the teams came from Sewanee and the greater Sewanee area. The fourth team always came out of Sherwood.”

“We ran a schedule of playing everyone twice. Then All-Stars were chosen to compete in Cowan, Winchester, Decherd, and all around the county. In the county championship, Sewanee, back in the day, won a number of times. From there, All-Stars were chosen county-wide to advance to Little League regionals, and play neighboring counties.”

“We would have as many as five nights a week playing ball at the ball field, under the lights. This included Little League and Babe Ruth teams.”

“We did not travel until it was time for the All-Stars. All of our games were played here in Sewanee, under the lights.”

Hill said there was a lot of parent involvement in both leagues. “They worked the concession stand, chased down foul balls, made sure parking was adequate, and helped police the ball field as well, from the grounds, to litter pickup to the cleanliness of the restroom.”

“It really was a social time at the ball field. There were always recreational activities going on. If the lights were on at the ball field, the people would go to see what was going on. There may have even been a pickup game.”

“We need to bring back life to the Sewanee Ballpark,” he said, “and get the park back to where it was.”

Hill is issuing a challenge to all those teams, coaches, managers, parents and sponsors to help raise money for the ballpark.

“All of those people inspired me to do what I needed to do, which was to coach and also give back,” he said.

“With my pledge of $500, I would like to challenge all former Sewanee Little League and Babe Ruth teams to help raise this money to stabilize this organization.”

“This is also a challenge fundraiser on behalf of those ball players who are no longer with us. Those people are remembered. We had a wonderful time at that ball field.”

“If you were part of the baseball teams in Sewanee, I challenge you to donate $99 or more. Let’s get those lights back on,” Hill said.

There are opportunities to help at both the baseball and the soccer fields said Myers. Some require a little bit of skill. These include excavating and replacing the drains to the baseball dugouts with a new piping system, and removing the bathrooms and concession area from the soccer pavilion and discarding the materials. Those interested in these and other repairs may contact Dixon Myers directly at (931) 636-3874.

—reported by Kiki Beavers, Editor