for immediate release: 22 February 2010

Spring Training, Orleans Style

Orleans, MA -- Pitchers and catchers won’t be reporting to Eldredge Field this week. Instead, a team of local contractors will be on hand to begin the long-awaited field improvement work, the Orleans Athletic Association and the Orleans Firebirds Baseball Club announced today. Once identified by Baseball America as the top collegiate summer park in the nation, the field will undergo a three-phase refurbishment project. 


With weather cooperating, the Orleans Athletic Association started phase 1 construction of new dugouts for the 2010 season.
Photo by Orleans Cardinals 2010

     When the Yawkey Foundation, as part of their continued commitment to the Cape Cod Baseball League and its franchises, awarded the league on behalf of the team a generous grant of $150,000 last March, the final touches were put on the plans and designs, commitments to matching the Yawkey funds were sought, and now the project is shovel-ready. 

     The scope of this project is a once-in-a-generation event, much like the work undertaken many years ago by Charles F. Moore, Jr. and his intrepid partners in community service. While these improvements would not be possible without the support of the Yawkey Foundation, the grant will not be the sole source of funding, as the actual cost will be double the award amount. These grants are not gifts; rather, they are partnerships between the municipality, the team, its supporters, and the Yawkey Foundation. Additional funds will be provided by the team’s ongoing fundraising activities, prior Town Meeting appropriations for the field irrigation, the generosity of local businesses and residents, and the professionals, contractors, and suppliers who have committed their time, expertise and resources.

 

The Team

Architect: 

Construction Manager:
Rich Morongell of Classical Architectural Works Matthew Cole of Cape Associates, Inc. Builders

Civil Engineers & Land Surveyors:

For the Orleans Athletic Association:
David Lyttle of Ryder & Wilcox John Kaletski, Clerk of the Works
Tim Brady of East Cape Engineering Ken Farrar, President
Don LeSieur, Vice President

For the Town of Orleans:

 Bob O’Donnell, Clerk
Jon Fuller, Chairman, Board of Selectmen Steve Garran, Treasurer
John Kelly, Town Administrator Sue Horton, General Manager, Orleans Firebirds
Paul Fulcher, Parks and Beaches Superintendent Kelly Nicholson, Field Manager, Orleans Firebirds

 

The Project
Phase 1 - Winter/Spring 2010 Phase 2 – Fall/Winter 2010 Phase 3 – Winter/Spring 2011
New, state of the art dugouts Field grading  Upgraded bullpens
New backstop and field netting New warning track Batter’s eye
New brick-faced kneewall New full field irrigation system New foul poles
New perimeter fencing New turf Bird’s Nest & Shop expansion 

 

Hall of Fame Donors
Classical Architectural Works Mid-Cape Home Centers
Ryder & Wilcox McCully Masonry
East Cape Engineering Cazeault Roofing
Cape Associates, Inc., Builders All Cape Foundations, Ernie Largey
Brewer Electric Outer Cape Finishers, Buddy Plante
Minot J. Reynolds Excavating LaBruna Industries, Angelo LaBruna
Cape Cod Ready Mix Orleans Toyota
Shepley Wood Products Bohman Thayer Real Estate

The Yawkey Foundation

 

     We still need the help of our friends and fans, both in terms of funding and also in-kind donations, so that we can fulfill our commitment to the Yawkey Foundation to see this through to completion. The result will be more than worth the effort.

     We welcome your assistance! To make a tax-deductible donation to support this project, please contact OAA Treasurer Steve Garran at 508-255-8380 or steve@garrancpa.com, or return the form below. To contribute materials or other in-kind services, please contact John Kaletski, 508-255-9677.

John Garner, Jr. (johnwgarner@earthlink.net)
 

John Garner, Jr.
Director of Public Relations & Broadcasting
 (508) 790-0394
johnwgarner@earthlink.net 

Brian Doyle
Web Editor / Senior Writer
rd0779@comcast.net