Lights go on at Goessel's new baseball fields
By DELBERT PETERS
Contributing writer
Two teams from Goessel, both in the Pony league, played a game after the 7:15 p.m. dedication Thursday of the new baseball fields. The impressive looking facility sparkled with freshly chalked foul lines, smoothed infield, mowed outfield grass, and a U.S. flag stretching in the breeze in center field.
Fred Schmidt, treasurer of the recreation commission, told the crowd of approximately 150 people some of the history that went into the completion of the baseball fields.
"Ten years ago, people began dreaming of someplace for baseball to be played in the town of Goessel," Schmidt said.
Support from city council members and recreation commission members in those early years was necessary to bring about the facility.
Many donations have resulted in the building of two baseball fields. Land donated by the family of Harold Voth helped provide space for the west facility and land donated by Al and Susie Schmidt is the site of the east diamond. A grant was requested in 2000 from Kansas Wildlife and Parks Department, but for many months nothing was recognized.
"All at once, the city received $10,000 and we found out that the Kauffman Estate (Kansas City Royals connection) had donated millions of dollars to the Kansas Wildlife and Parks department and the Goessel grant was filled," said Schmidt.
Many donated hours were spent getting the facilities in shape for baseball. When the high school replaced the lighting system at the football stadium, the old lights were donated for the baseball field.
Voth Field (west diamond) has covered dugouts, lights, a sprinkler system in the outfield grass, and special infield surface. This field is used by the Pony league teams (fifth and sixth grade) boys and girls.
"Next year, these sixth graders playing tonight may make up the first, all-Goessel Babe Ruth team," said recreation commission president Harold Stultz.
The field is ready for this level of competition. The outfield fence is 300 feet from home plate and the bases will be placed at the appropriate distance.
"If Goessel would expand its high school sports program to include baseball, this field would be very useable," said Schmidt.
T-ball and machine pitch games are still held at the elementary school, but that facility is inadequate for the older players who hit the ball further.
"Dugouts will be added to Schmidt Field (east diamond) as the money becomes available," said Schmidt, "and eventually the younger teams will be able to play at the baseball facility north of the high school."
After recognizing the current recreation commission, mayor Peggy Jay threw out the ceremonial "first pitch." Tara Goerzen, a 2003 Goessel grad, sang the national anthem, the players were introduced, and baseball began.
Sponsors who made monetary donations for the project were Citizen's State Bank, The Cookie Jar, Crossroads Credit Union, Ratzlaff Draperies, Mid Kansas Co-op, Creative Woods, Excel Industries-Hustler Turf Equipment, and Gravel Ends Ranch.
