Do the top 4 or 6 teams qualify for the tournament this year?
I thought last year it was the top 4? Is the tournament at Cosby again or does it rotate to another field?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
It has been 6 teams the last two years. As far as I know, it will continue. Not sure of the site.
Site is Cosby High School, again. Cosby lacks enough seating for everyone and lights for night games, so it makes a lot of sense to hold the district tournament there! ;-)
Couldn't remember last year if it was 4 or 6 teams. Appreciate it Papelbon.
Well, as far as the lights thing, I am glad it isn't being held at Bird.
It is my understanding that the reason just about all of the high schools in Chesterfield don't have lights is if they put them in, the county gets to play on the fields as well?
Anyone know if that is true or not?
Also, it would be interesting to find out how they determine where the tournament will be held each year.
Well, as far as the lights thing, I am glad it isn't being held at Bird.
It is my understanding that the reason just about all of the high schools in Chesterfield don't have lights is if they put them in, the county gets to play on the fields as well?
Anyone know if that is true or not?
Also, it would be interesting to find out how they determine where the tournament will be held each year.
Regarding the lights I believe if "public funds" (moine and your taxes) are use to put lights on a field the field is open to public use
However- if money is raised by a boster club (private donations) it is a different story.......... an example of this woul be Matoaca High School which is one of the few newer schools with lights - i understand those lights we paid for through private donations.
However- if money is raised by a boster club (private donations) it is a different story.......... an example of this woul be Matoaca High School which is one of the few newer schools with lights - i understand those lights we paid for through private donations.
Curious on Public v Private funding. Why does that matter in a public school? By definition they are (or at least should be) our schools anyway. This means they should be open to the public like any other building or park if appropriate requests are made and fees if any are paid.
quote:Originally posted by luv baseball:
Curious on Public v Private funding. Why does that matter in a public school? By definition they are (or at least should be) our schools anyway. This means they should be open to the public like any other building or park if appropriate requests are made and fees if any are paid.
I would think that if the expense of paying for the lights is paid through private funds then the high school could minimize or at least marginalize the use of the field. Most travel and rec ball teams need facilities with lights in order to practice after the High school team is through for the day but I am not sure that a public school can completely keep a team off the field during the day when not in use. Is there a Lawyer in the house?
Constructing and operating the lights costs a lot more than you might imagine. Pretty much the only places with them were funded out of the Parks & Rec budget, which is approved by the Board of Supervisors. That is something P&R will do only if they get to claim the field for use as well.
The schools budget doesn't fund diddly for athletics. It's largely funded by boosters, and when you do the necessities, there's just no money left for lights. James River had to raise $250,000+ just to build their current varsity field. I was amazed they got that done as it was. Lights would've added another 100k plus the annual operating expense.
Matoaca benefited from having a supervisor who was a big time pork barreller. That high school was state of the art when it opened. If private money came in, too, then no wonder they have it so good.
Interestingly, Bird is not the only Dominion field with lights, but no one ever seems to want to play at Huguenot.
The schools budget doesn't fund diddly for athletics. It's largely funded by boosters, and when you do the necessities, there's just no money left for lights. James River had to raise $250,000+ just to build their current varsity field. I was amazed they got that done as it was. Lights would've added another 100k plus the annual operating expense.
Matoaca benefited from having a supervisor who was a big time pork barreller. That high school was state of the art when it opened. If private money came in, too, then no wonder they have it so good.
Interestingly, Bird is not the only Dominion field with lights, but no one ever seems to want to play at Huguenot.
Midlo Dad nailed it. That is exactly how it works with parks and rec. I know that lights were offered up to Thomas Dale's previous coach several years ago and he turned them down to keep people off the field. I'd assume that most would turn it down. Too much wear and tear and it might end up costing you more money down the road repairing field more often than normal. Midlo Dad also mentioned booster clubs and some schools have those but many don't and self-sustain their own programs through fund raising alone versus getting a chunk each year from a booster club. It's no wonder that some fields look much better than others....
All Chesterfield supervisors have money available to them..I think about $40,000 to spend in their districts at their discretion. The money comes from either a meal or road tax source i believe- most likey roads.
The former supervisor was a graduate of Matoaca high school and not only did alot to get the new school built there also did alot once the school was in place to finsih it out.
Not sure it would have made sense for her to "pork barrell spend" in that area since most of the population in the Matoaca District resides around Hull Street. I think alot of what she did was because they had a very old school that needed replacing and their is much potential there for future growth.
Although the school was built and state of the art in alot of ways there was much work left to do when it opened- the boosters have built dugouts and a press box- not sure if they have to raise money for irrigation and sodding or not.
I heard when the last new school in the county opened they did not sod the baseball infield because if they did they would also have had to sod the softball field ? have never seen a sodded softball field!
Remember when Matoaca first opened they could not use the athletic fields the first year it was open and played at the old high school until the new ones could be finished.... most of the "finishing" required private or donated funds.
One great thing in that area is you have lots of people still in the area who went to school there and now have children enrolled...there is a tremendous sense of pride and involvemnet with lots of resources to get things done including elbow grease!
The former supervisor was a graduate of Matoaca high school and not only did alot to get the new school built there also did alot once the school was in place to finsih it out.
Not sure it would have made sense for her to "pork barrell spend" in that area since most of the population in the Matoaca District resides around Hull Street. I think alot of what she did was because they had a very old school that needed replacing and their is much potential there for future growth.
Although the school was built and state of the art in alot of ways there was much work left to do when it opened- the boosters have built dugouts and a press box- not sure if they have to raise money for irrigation and sodding or not.
I heard when the last new school in the county opened they did not sod the baseball infield because if they did they would also have had to sod the softball field ? have never seen a sodded softball field!
Remember when Matoaca first opened they could not use the athletic fields the first year it was open and played at the old high school until the new ones could be finished.... most of the "finishing" required private or donated funds.
One great thing in that area is you have lots of people still in the area who went to school there and now have children enrolled...there is a tremendous sense of pride and involvemnet with lots of resources to get things done including elbow grease!
Didn't Cosby open with a skin infield and have turf added going into year two? I could be making that up. Is there a specific reason why this is the case in Chesterfield but not Hanover or Henrico? All of those schools have lights but there is never an issue with outside parties wishing to use the fields. Heck, Henrico Parks and Rec pretty much take care of Hermitage completely considering the coach is a "high ranking" parks and rec person.
Your memory is correct. There simply wasn't time for the turf to take prior to the 2007 season. Coach Lowery had it put in after that season and it was good to go in 2008.
I think he did that work himself. So that tells you something right there about who does what out in Chesterfield. As I recall, former head coach Ben Bradford got the Monacan field rebuilt through a combination of fund raising, in-kind donations, and back breaking labor by himself, his players and their families. And so it goes.
Chesterfield is just historically very tight with its bucks. Henrico has done more. Part of this may be that Chesterfield has tended to grow much more suddenly, plus Henrico has always had a better commercial tax base.
Hanover has the advantage of only adding 2 schools in the past what, 40 years or more? Though that's only half serious, since Atlee and Hanover are still reasonably new.
I think he did that work himself. So that tells you something right there about who does what out in Chesterfield. As I recall, former head coach Ben Bradford got the Monacan field rebuilt through a combination of fund raising, in-kind donations, and back breaking labor by himself, his players and their families. And so it goes.
Chesterfield is just historically very tight with its bucks. Henrico has done more. Part of this may be that Chesterfield has tended to grow much more suddenly, plus Henrico has always had a better commercial tax base.
Hanover has the advantage of only adding 2 schools in the past what, 40 years or more? Though that's only half serious, since Atlee and Hanover are still reasonably new.
From a players perspective, I'd want to see it played on my home field if I came in 1st place for the district.
From a fan's perspective, I'd want ample & comfortable seating for everyone and games to be played at night to draw larger crowds. I would think the County would want the additional revenue, but I guess that is too obvious.
Instead we squeeze into Cosbys' field, and try to get the games in before dusk. I'm waiting for a future tied game that gets called because of darkness, and has to be continued the next day. That will hopefully change things up.
And so it goes
From a fan's perspective, I'd want ample & comfortable seating for everyone and games to be played at night to draw larger crowds. I would think the County would want the additional revenue, but I guess that is too obvious.
Instead we squeeze into Cosbys' field, and try to get the games in before dusk. I'm waiting for a future tied game that gets called because of darkness, and has to be continued the next day. That will hopefully change things up.
And so it goes
well Fenway...they could just go ahead and play at Cosby after dark with no lights....thats what playing at Bird is like with those lights if the ball gets above those short light poles!
I think Bird could have kept the District tournament there if the put some effort in upgrading the field...did you know LCB does not even have a booster club? That schocked me when I heard it with all the success they have had with football.
Could have turned that place into a nice place with a little sod and effort....... it is however a well used field with Post 137 using it for so many games over the summer.
I think Bird could have kept the District tournament there if the put some effort in upgrading the field...did you know LCB does not even have a booster club? That schocked me when I heard it with all the success they have had with football.
Could have turned that place into a nice place with a little sod and effort....... it is however a well used field with Post 137 using it for so many games over the summer.
stilllearning
Unfortunetly the County owns & runs the Bird field, so Bird has to pester the County to get simple things done. There is a lot to be said for having a field that is totally under the schools control with lock and key. The new Bird head coach actually did a lot of work on his own, and the field is playing the best I've ever seen it in 5 years. The fact that Legion games are being played on that field (too) makes my point.....the field gets trashed with lots of games including High School games and practices, Legion, CBC and Little League games.
I'm NOT suggesting the playoffs be moved back to Bird. I'm suggesting seating for all who want to come and lights to get more games in. Something like RF&P, Diamond (now Squirrels Nest) or other venue would be great. This is my wish for Dominion District baseball. It doesn't have to happen today, but it sure would be nice.
Unfortunetly the County owns & runs the Bird field, so Bird has to pester the County to get simple things done. There is a lot to be said for having a field that is totally under the schools control with lock and key. The new Bird head coach actually did a lot of work on his own, and the field is playing the best I've ever seen it in 5 years. The fact that Legion games are being played on that field (too) makes my point.....the field gets trashed with lots of games including High School games and practices, Legion, CBC and Little League games.
I'm NOT suggesting the playoffs be moved back to Bird. I'm suggesting seating for all who want to come and lights to get more games in. Something like RF&P, Diamond (now Squirrels Nest) or other venue would be great. This is my wish for Dominion District baseball. It doesn't have to happen today, but it sure would be nice.
Eastern Region is at ODU. Could VCU or Richmond be options? Have to think the colleges might be interested in getting better relationships with HS coaches.
Interestingly enough I hear the Diamond (is it called the Squirrels nest now? I just stopped calling it Parker Field last year) is hosting the Central region this year starting in the second round. That is the other extreme from RF&P being 402 to center- the HR will most likely not be a factor when the time comes which is a big deal from some of the contenders...like Manchester which seems to be a powel hitting team-
quote:Regarding the lights I believe if "public funds" (moine and your taxes) are use to put lights on a field the field is open to public use
However- if money is raised by a boster club (private donations) it is a different story..........
Ahhh. Now that makes sense to me. I can't imagine what it would cost to install lights on one of these fields now. It has to be astronomical.
I do know that all the coaches work their tails off keeping their fields nice with no budget to boot. Hats off to them for the work they put in…I can totally understand why they are sensitive about people getting on their fields.
quote:I'm NOT suggesting the playoffs be moved back to Bird. I'm suggesting seating for all who want to come and lights to get more games in. Something like RF&P, Diamond (now Squirrels Nest) or other venue would be great. This is my wish for Dominion District baseball. It doesn't have to happen today, but it sure would be nice.
I think that would be pretty cool too. Fun for the players, fun for the fans. I would think putting it somewhere like that would also help elevate the level of intensity since it would give it a more important feel. Maybe more so for the fans but still a great idea.
Someday maybe SportsQuest will build a place like RF&P without the mistake of short fences.
BTW, if L.C. Bird doesn't have a booster club, what do you call the folks who run the concession stand there?
BTW, if L.C. Bird doesn't have a booster club, what do you call the folks who run the concession stand there?
Concession Stand volunteers?
I head the part about the booster club when they started all the talk of eliminating high school sports due to the budget issues..... some schools said they could fund programs through boosters club-it was pointed out all schools do not have booster clubs so that would be unfair, LCB was given as an exapmle as a school that does not have a booster club in place
I head the part about the booster club when they started all the talk of eliminating high school sports due to the budget issues..... some schools said they could fund programs through boosters club-it was pointed out all schools do not have booster clubs so that would be unfair, LCB was given as an exapmle as a school that does not have a booster club in place
Midlo Dad you would call those people "parents". The money from that concession stand is the only revenue besides gate fees that the baseball team gets. These parents volunteer their time, but I would not constitute them as a boosters club.
Unfortunately Bird does not get the support from the parents or surrounding community that other schools in the district are fortunate enough to have. The demographics in that area do not lend themselves to such.
Unfortunately Bird does not get the support from the parents or surrounding community that other schools in the district are fortunate enough to have. The demographics in that area do not lend themselves to such.
quote:Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
Someday maybe SportsQuest will build a place like RF&P without the mistake of short fences.
That would be a great thing for Chesterfield County. Henrico is so far ahead of the southside when it comes to facilities.
From what I've seen and heard though the SportsQuest group has no baseball planned at all. Seems to be all olympic sports and s****r type stuff.
Has anyone heard differently?
quote:Originally posted by stilllearning:
Interestingly enough I hear the Diamond (is it called the Squirrels nest now? I just stopped calling it Parker Field last year) is hosting the Central region this year starting in the second round. -
Can anyone verify this? I hadn't heard that, and just assumed they would be back at RF&P. I would much prefer RF&P because it's just about the perfect venue for high school baseball (minus the short porch all the way around). I wonder if they would ever consider backing the fences up, or adding a second eight foot section of fence to make it play a little bigger?
3boys -- booster clubs are seldom anything other than helpful parents. Sounds like LCB has a booster club but chooses not to draw up bylaws or elect officers. The no frills approach! I guess it's nice not to have to wrangle with the other sports, cheerleaders, etc., for the money you raise, though.
As for SportsQuest, it is working on relationships with RISE and with RBA South. I think its name is even on the doors at RISE and ACTS at this point. Whether there is a field there remains to be seen. I'm not sure one is in the initial plans, but if past is prologue, plans will change many times before that thing is built out.
I'm just hoping it does get built out, as opposed to some of our other large commercial developments in the area (Watkins Centre, West Broad Village come to mind). All such things depend on ample and stable funding as well as a strong and persistent management team.
As for SportsQuest, it is working on relationships with RISE and with RBA South. I think its name is even on the doors at RISE and ACTS at this point. Whether there is a field there remains to be seen. I'm not sure one is in the initial plans, but if past is prologue, plans will change many times before that thing is built out.
I'm just hoping it does get built out, as opposed to some of our other large commercial developments in the area (Watkins Centre, West Broad Village come to mind). All such things depend on ample and stable funding as well as a strong and persistent management team.
The Sports Quest thing seems to be focused on Olympic Sports- baseball not being one I guess.
Really speaks to where we need improvement in Chesterfield County...The big public meeting to announce the plans for Sports Quest had to be held at a facility in the West End because we do not have anything put the Holiday inn Kroger center with enough capacity to have such a get together.
Really speaks to where we need improvement in Chesterfield County...The big public meeting to announce the plans for Sports Quest had to be held at a facility in the West End because we do not have anything put the Holiday inn Kroger center with enough capacity to have such a get together.
Yes, the regional semifinals will take place at the Diamond this year.
quote:As for SportsQuest, it is working on relationships with RISE and with RBA South. I think its name is even on the doors at RISE and ACTS at this point. Whether there is a field there remains to be seen. I'm not sure one is in the initial plans, but if past is prologue, plans will change many times before that thing is built out.
All the articles I have read, all the fields they are planning and all the sports they are supporting, I haven't heard one word about baseball mentioned. I also hear they purchased the buildings RISE and RBA work out of. I sincerely hope that means they are planning on adding something baseball related. What a colossal shame if they don't. A scaled down Ripken type park would be ideal with a RF&P type main venue (longer fences please
) Heck, even a "VSC south" would be better than nothing.
I think their primary interest in the RBA building is the ACTS facility and at RISE it is the s****r fields... do not think they are trying to promote baseball
I specifically asked a representative for SportsQuest about baseball fields at their complex and the answer was "no"...they were building fields that were multi-sport adaptable, such as fields that could be used for football, lacross and sokker. ****sigh****
Also, I have heard the figure of ~$75-100k for lights for a baseball field. Pretty ambitious figure for a booster club, even in the most enriched areas of the county.
Also, I have heard the figure of ~$75-100k for lights for a baseball field. Pretty ambitious figure for a booster club, even in the most enriched areas of the county.
SportsQuest is indeed looking into relationships with the baseball people. I'm not sure how far they intend to take it, but it is part of the plan anyway.