Wasilla Little League's Smith Fields get a new look

WASILLA - Thanks to the generosity of numerous local businesses and the efforts of a group of volunteers, the Smith Fields in Wasilla have a new look.

The baseball fields used, leased and maintained by the Wasilla Little League have undergone a complete face lift.

There are new fence caps and back stops. But the changes go beyond cosmetic. The fields and the buildings on the complex all have improved utilities.

&#8220With the power (that existed) you couldn't use the microwave (in the concessions stand) and the pitching machine at the same time,” Wasilla Little League vice president Bruce Scott joked.

Those involved with Wasilla Little League had talked about the needs for an upgrade for several years. A few months ago, the Little League set up a field committee to both organize the improvement needs and facilitate those needs. Once that group was formed and the needs were mapped out, the Little League began the process. Rather than soliciting help, the nonprofit organization found it did not take long for members of the community to step to the plate.

&#8220It's been very humbling,” Scott said. &#8220It's been rewarding, seeing people in the community, both businesses and volunteers, participate.”

The project could have cost the Little League in excess of $140,000, Scott said. But the efforts of those who volunteered their time and services saved the Wasilla Little League an extraordinary amount of money.

&#8220It's absolutely astounding,” Wasilla Little League's Lee Anne Crafton said. &#8220We're blessed by the generosity of the community. I was surprised by how many people wanted to help the league - how much they love baseball.”

With the Wasilla area growing as fast as it is, Crafton said it is important to the Wasilla Little League to have a quality facility for the young athletes who play the game, and the baseball fans who watch.

&#8220You want people to look and say ‘that's somewhere I want my kids to play baseball',” Crafton said. &#8220It's good for the community. It's good for everyone involved.”

The list of material and services donated for the project is as long as a Tolstoy novel. Many businesses donated their time or resources outright, others sold the needed materials to the Little League at

cost.

Framing, painting, excavation, cement work, electrical work, plumbing and the list goes on and on. That's not counting the hundreds of hours of general labor.

The Smith Fields, located off of Knik-Goose Bay Road in Wasilla, are on a 28-acre parcel leased by the Wasilla Little League. There are six different divisions of baseball that use the fields - T-ball, kids pitch, coach pitch, minor, major and junior - and about 500 players currently playing in those divisions. Scott said the Little League saw a jump of participation from about 350 to about 500 in just one year, and that number is only expected to grow.