Kee softball and baseball fields to be renovated

Wintry weather over the past couple of weeks reinforced the reality that high school softball and baseball seasons are still months away. In New Albin, however, anticipation continues to build for the return of the girls and boys of summer.
Renovation projects that promise dramatic upgrades to the playing surfaces and spectator experiences are under way at the home fields for Kee High’s baseball and softball teams located in New Albin.
What started as the Eastern Allamakee Community School District’s (EACSD) desire to focus on bleacher safety has blossomed into a wholesale overhaul of the softball field located at New Albin Elementary School and the storied baseball program’s home at Shooky Fink Field. EACSD Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier noticed the antiquated bleachers last summer as he completed his first year with the district.
“I was really worried about our liability in the event of an accident. The gaps between the seats and the footboards were dangerous and the safety rails weren’t too sturdy,” Crozier said.
Crozier communicated his concern to the district’s board of education, which appropriated the funds necessary to replace the bleachers. At that point, the Kee High Booster Club inquired about partnering with the school to expand the scope of the project.
“Dale brought a new set of eyes to the school district. He noticed right away that our fields were in need of repair,” said Mike Brennan, one of the district patrons spearheading the effort.
The project now has two planned phases. Phase one plans for this spring at the two fields includes in-ground dugouts, new bleachers, new restroom/concessions buildings, and an irrigation source behind the pitchers’ mounds. Site specific phase one plans call for a new crown on the softball infield and a new backstop and grandstand at the baseball field.  Phase two plans for this fall will bring about a re-crowning of each of the outfields.
Jeff Cota, another of the project organizers, commented, “The summer of 2013 has some important milestones.  Kee High’s next baseball win will be Coach Schultz’s 1700th (a national record), it will have been 40 years since the 1973 team won the school’s first state championship with a 47-0 record, and Shooky will be gone for 25 years (he passed away in 1988). We think the timing is perfect for the make-over of our fields."
The total cost of the work at the two fields is estimated at $167,000, which includes a 10% contingency. In combining the school’s financial commitment, generous donations from New Albin Savings Bank and Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank, a portion of existing Kee Booster funds, and a few private contributions, over $130,000 is already in place.
“We still have one significant contribution pending. Beyond that, we will be relying on the contributions of alumni, parents and fans to help us reach our goal,” commented Brennan.
A copy of the donor form can be found on this page of The Standard. Anyone wishing to make a tax-deductible contribution to the project is urged to contact Val Reinke at New Albin Savings Bank at 563-544-4214.