Sandusky AMVETS opening day a huge hit

SANDUSKY — The area's longest-running youth sports league received a massive offseason upgrade. Now in its 76th season, this year's Sandusky AMVETS Youth Baseball League features two new playing surfaces for games closer to the premier diamond, Erie Blacktop Field, at AMVETS Park. They're located at West Adams and Harrison streets overlooking Sandusky's coal docks. In short, because of ongoing work to expand Sandusky's sewer plant onto Sprau Park, city officials relocated two of its four fields to AMVETS Park. They're now located beyond the outfield fence of Erie Blacktop Field. Amid a picturesque's summer's night, on Thursday, six teams shared these three fields, taking part in opening day festivities and, of course, games. Similar to reading stats on a baseball card, Lamarqus Carr, the league's commissioner and president, provided some context and clarity about play in 2023: • The numbers: This year, about 260 kids signed up to play, pretty much matching last year's amount. There are 25 teams, broken down with seven T-ball, six coaches pitches, 6 Atoms League and six Junior League teams. Children on these teams range in age between 4 and 13. • The importance: "AMVETS baseball is about tradition, about generations playing in the same league. AMVETS is about relating to the kids today because you actually been where they are at that age. Seventy-six years is a long time for any league let alone Little League Baseball." • The ability: "Not to mention, we are a recreational league that's still going strong especially when there are many other options for kids in our area to choose from to play baseball such as other travel leagues. But the real competition is down here at AMVETS from the coaches to the players. It's affordable for parents, and we work with parents with financial hardships because we, as a league, do not want to leave any child left out that wants to play because of fees." • The availability: "Last year, AMVETS was the first Little League in our area to have its games broadcasted on live TV. We will be doing the same thing this year, too." • The new features: "We have not one but two new Atoms League fields for our age group of 8- to 10-year-olds. The city expanded its treatment facility. In return, the kids got two brand new fields to play on this year. We really are excited about that because it brings the kids that play on the new fields. It puts them in the same proximity of the Junior League park and a shorter walk for parents to watch their child or even if they want to make a trip to our concession stand, which will also have an extended menu that will feature a special sandwich or a feature item once a week." Focusing on the new fields A multimillion-dollar project aims to make Sandusky a more environmentally friendly community, benefiting its residents, visitors and other stakeholders. In November, city commissioners approved a $33.5 million project to accomplish several tasks in hopes of achieving this lofty task. The goal revolves around reducing how often overflows, which frequently result in flooding, happen in homes and area bodies of water like Sandusky Bay/Lake Erie. "This occurs when our storm and sanitary sewers are overburdened by excessive rainfalls," said city ex officio mayor Dick Brady, who supports this initiative. When this scenario plays out — all too often in Sandusky, officials said — untreated water gets discharged into the environment, pollutes water, damages property and causes headaches for all involved. A project at the city's Harrison Street wastewater treatment plant aims to process almost all untreated water, thus greatly reducing this toxic situation from taking place. Three city officials — public works director Aaron Klein, recreation superintendent Jason Werling and recreation project coordinator Chris Mehling — offered up an explanation on why AMVETS Park received two new baseball fields in this process: • Why, part 1: "The city (took over this site) knowing that the high-rate treatment project at the water pollution control plant was required by Ohio EPA to be completed by the end of 2024. Our goal in purchasing that property was to relocate the two existing ball fields at Sprau Park because that location was going to be needed for the contractor's staging and laydown area for the treatment project." • Why, part 2: "We also wanted to create a more uniform, cohesive ballfield complex adjacent to the Sandusky Bay Pathway with views of the bay rather than views of the water pollution control plant. This would create better accessibility and safety for the users. In short, two existing youth ballfields were relocated to the AMVETS location to accommodate the high-rate treatment project at the water pollution control plant with a vision of creating a better park environment for the residents." • Why, part 3: "Having the additional fields in a condensed location makes it easier for families with multiple children to watch multiple games at the same time and also creates a better experience for all involved. The location along the city's Sandusky Bay Pathway improves the connection for access by walking, running or biking to the park for spectators and participants." • When: "The deadline in the bid documents was that the fields needed to be in place prior to the beginning of the youth baseball season. When the contractor installed their fencing at Sprau, they began procuring materials to meet this deadline." • Who: The AMVETS and Sprau fields are open to the public when the Sandusky AMVETS Baseball League is not using the fields for practice or games. The AMVETS League is the only league with priority-use access at this time. • Cost: "The cost of this work on the ballfields was incidental to the high-rate treatment project ($33.5 million in total). Since we had to eliminate two fields to accommodate the project, we had to construct two new fields that met today's standards. Additional park capital dollars (from the city's budget) have been allocated to other improvements through 2024, such as a new playground, benches and repairing the scorebox. The total cost of improvements to Sprau and AMVETS ball fields is expected to be around $1 million."