After nearly a year of setbacks, Montclair High School Baseball players, coaches, and families were optimistic about the completion of the renovations of the new Woodman Field. Players were hopeful that the addition of MHS’s new turf baseball field would be a point of pride for the Mounties to build a successful season on. The baseball program had expectations that the new turf field would fix a previously unsafe and poorly maintained original grass field.
“With all the rain we get throughout the season, a turf field will help us prevent practices and games from being canceled,” sophomore Asher Seawell stated. “Also a turf field is safer than a bad dirt field because the ground was so uneven.”
Despite the progress and the optimism, problems continue to arise. “The turf is too high and the blades are too thick,” said Ronald Anello, Montclair High School’s athletic director. “The turf they put down there is more for a soccer or football facility not for a baseball facility. Nobody asked for that.”
“The architect made egregious mistakes to the project,” Montclair’s head baseball coach Ron Gavazzi said, “He has not been truthful with me. In the end, his mistakes affect the kids.”
Many players have been disappointed about how long and painful the process has been. Mounties have been waiting patiently through Woodman’s lengthy construction and the abundance of setbacks that occurred. “It felt like every time they said it was going to be done, another thing came up,” said sophomore Will Black.
Unfortunately, the initial problems with the project weren’t the only problems. According to Anello, there is incorrect bleacher placement, an inadequate pitcher’s mound, and problems with the poles of the safety net surrounding the field.
“Bleachers are put in spots where people are not going to be able to see,” Anello added. “I don’t think the poles are high enough, not unless they’re going to put extensions on them. I can see balls flying out of there all day long.”
Gavazzi said he believes the contracting company should pay to correct their many mistakes, not the taxpayers.
If these problems can be corrected, players believe the new Woodman Field can show a lot of promise. “I am very excited to play on the new field because it will create a better atmosphere and make games more fun,” Seawell stated. How and when these problems will be resolved is still unknown.
Meanwhile, more problems keep piling up. Recently the field was vandalized. The safety nets surrounding the field, as well as their pulley system, have been cut. These actions stall the project further and create an unknown time frame for the field’s completion.
Players just want to play baseball on their new field. The community and those involved are disappointed and losing patience. “The field is practically complete. We just want to play ball,” said senior Ryan Sullivan.
“I am very frustrated,” said Anello, “I grew up here, Montclair born and raised and it’s very frustrating.”
