Midcoast Athletics

Mon, 02/26/2018 - 10:00am

George Harvey

(Courtesy Save Oceanside Fields/Facebook)

ROCKLAND — When a group of Oceanside supporters crafted the idea to renovate the old Rockland District High School baseball and softball fields, the goal was to complete the renovations in time for the 2018 seasons.

After countless hours of working towards that goal — and several fundraisers — that goal could become a reality.

In mid-December, Machias Savings Bank donated $10,000 to the Save Oceanside Fields campaign so wifi-powered scoreboards could be purchased for both fields.

Then, in late January, Jim York built and installed storage shed doors on the Oceanside baseball dugout using lumber donated by Everett Spear of Spear’s Lumber, according to a Facebook post. Bill Lepennan assisted in installing the door.

The group’s Facebook page noted Vikings Lumber was scheduled to donate and deliver roofing shingles and roofing supplies, which Tony Simatis and his crew would install on a volunteer basis, once the second shed door was installed.

Repeated requests for further updates on the progress of the field renovation and for an update on whether or not the varsity teams will be able to use the fields this season were not returned.

The group, officially known as Oceanside Improvement Fund, Inc., is spearheaded by Denise Norton, the organization’s president.

The non-profit aims to raise money in order to give makeovers to the Robert Morrill baseball field and the soon-to-be Gene Drinkwater softball field.

The two fields located on Thomaston Street in Rockland are currently occupied by the district’s middle school diamond squads. The high school teams use fields in Thomaston that were once used by Georges Valley. The plan is to have the varsity teams utilize the Rockland fields and the middle school teams utilize the Thomaston fields upon completion of the renovations.

The group has received school board approval from Regional School Unit 13 to raise these funds and has received school board support to budget “adequate funds to maintain and upkeep these fields once the improvements have been made,” according to a statement posted on the group’s Facebook page.

As it stands, additional funds are still needed to pay for the field’s fencing, paint for the dugouts, foul poles, bat boxes and dugout shelving.

Those interested in making tax-deductible donations can write a check to “Save Oceanside Fields” and mail it to P.O. Box 1262, Rockland, ME, 04841.

Reach George Harvey and the sports department at: sports@penbaypilot.com.