SPRING TRAINING

ValleyCats to renew annual tradition of fixing up youth fields

TROY, N.Y. >> The Tri- City ValleyCats is teaming up with BlueShield of Northeastern New York and Hannaford Supermarkets for its annual 4 in 24 field renovation project, where four youth baseball fields will be renovated in a 24-hour time period on Thursday, April 13.

The four leagues to receive the work will be Amsterdam Youth Baseball, Colonie Little League, Tri-Village Little League in Glenmont and RC Little League in Schenectady. Each field will have new sod installed on the infield, rebuilding of the pitcher’s mound and home plate areas, raking and grading of infield dirt, cutting baselines to correct specifications, and more.

“Since we began the 4 in 24 project back in 2011, it has been one of our most impactful community outreach events each year that has positively af- fected thousands of youth ballplayers within the Capital Region,” said ValleyCats General Manager Matt Callahan.

This year marks the seventh consecutive 4 in 24 project, and upon its completion, 28 youth ballfields will have been renovated, with commercial partners helping to supply the necessary resources and volunteers to complete the work.

“BlueShield knows the importance of supporting programs that provide healthy opportunities for the children throughout our community to play and learn,” said Dr. Kirk Panneton, vice president and regional executive and medical director for BlueShield of Northeastern New York. “Our company and employees have helped to transform more than 24 fields since partnering with the Tri- City ValleyCats, and we are thrilled to support the 4 in 24 program again this year.”

Work on each field will begin at

daybreak and continue through the night, if necessary. Volunteers will be assisted by BrightView, the ValleyCats official grounds crew, Admar Construction, Turface and SiteOne Landscape Supplies, who are contributing some of the necessary equipment, materials and volunteers. Additional support comes from ‘Cats Care, the ValleyCats’ arm of the New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation.

“We appreciate every- thing that the ValleyCats do for local youth baseball leagues,” said Paul Antonelli, president of Amsterdam Youth Baseball, which will have a field renovated to accommodate younger players. “We were in dire need of a secondary field, and now we are able to accommodate the influx of kids ages 4-12 who play in our spring league, as well as our fall league, which had 18 teams last season, the largest in our 67-year history.”

RECORD FILE PHOTOS Spring Little League members Sean Tuckey, Pat McBride and Dan Mahar hang windscreens on the outfield fence at the league’s field in Troy during the Tri-City ValleyCats’ 4in 24youth field renovations day April 18, 2014.

Nassau Little League President Jeff Pearce, left, and L.J. Black, a grounds crew member for the Tri-City ValleyCats, work on the infield of the league’s field during last year’s 4in 24youth field renovation project.

RECORD FILE PHOTO Matt Callahan, general manager, of the Tri-City ValleyCats, speaks about the importance of the team’s 4in 24field renovation project during a news conference last year at the Upstate Premier Baseball League field in Schenectady.