Renovations continue at Trenton ball field
Mike MacKinnon knew it wouldn’t be a quick fix.
“If we can get the light poles and the lights up this year, then we’d be happy,” said the chairman of a committee raising money to spruce up Scotia Ball Field in Trenton.
After about a year of raising money, the ball field just off Park Road is already beginning to resemble a snake shedding its skin. A new backstop has been put in place, fencing has been added in front of the two dugouts as a safety precaution, and a section of fence down the right and left field lines has been installed.
“The lights are probably 45 years old, I’m guessing, and they are brittle,” said MacKinnon, who is a member of the Trenton and Area Minor Ball Association.
“I’m not sure, but they might have even been second-hand when they were put in.”
Using numerous methods of fundraising, about $87,000 has been raised thus far, with verbal commitments of several more thousand dollars, MacKinnon went on to say.
The committee is aiming for $135,000 to get all the upgrades they’re looking for.
Eventually, the fencing around the entire ballpark will be replaced, new dugouts will be installed and the dirt infield will be raised slightly, in order to to counter the wear and tear that has taken place over the past few decades. “We really started this about a year ago,” MacKinnon said on Wednesday, as a few ball players warmed up out on Scotia Ball Field, getting ready for the opening night of the Pictou County men’s lob ball league, which is comprised of 10 teams.
“There is no more minor ball in Trenton right now, and we hope to get that going again in the next couple of years,” he said.
“But there’ll be a lot of tournaments this summer on weekends. This field is used quite a bit.”
Anyone interested in helping out can email him at: trentonminorball@gmail.com or check out their Facebook page.