Tides get set to pick youth field makeover
If you’d like to see a youth baseball field renovated, now’s the time.
The Norfolk Tides this week announced the opening of the submission period for the Youth Field Makeover Project. Organizations must apply by Feb. 28 to be considered. To submit, please send one photo and a one-paragraph description about your field in an email to Heather McKeating at hmckeating@ norfolktides.com.
Last year the Tides’ grounds crew and front-office staff went to the Suffolk Youth Athletic Association and Virginia Beach Little League to make over their baseball fields. Potential renovations include regrading the field, leveling it and then topping it, improving the dugouts and redoing the bleachers.
Since the inaugural renovation in 2012, the Tides have renovated 17 local fields: Eason’s Crossroads (Gates, North Carolina), Ocean View Little League (Norfolk), Smithfield Recreation Association, Bennett’s Creek Little League (Suffolk), Phoebus Little League (Hampton), Shore Little League (Nassawadox), Cradock Little League (Portsmouth), Little Creek National (Norfolk), Gloucester Youth Baseball, Surry County Pony Baseball, Deer Park Youth Field (Newport News), Plaza Little League (Virginia Beach), Thalia/ Malibu Baseball (Virginia Beach), Churchland Little League (Portsmouth), Albemarle (North Carolina), Suffolk Youth Athletic Association and Virginia Beach Little League.
ODU goalkeeping great retires:
Former Old Dominion soccer goalkeeper Evan Newton, 34, a Virginia Beach native, announced his retirement after a 12-year pro career.
In action at the United Soccer League Championship level, which trails only Major League Soccer in the U.S., Newton is the all-time leader in shutouts and saves. He won the USL Championship Golden Glove in 2018.
With ODU, he’s the career leader in shutouts and saves, which helped him to be chosen in the 2011 MLS supplemental draft by the Houston Dynamo.
Area ties to XFL: As the developmental XFL gets going this weekend, we found some local connections. The Houston Roughnecks have the most.
Former All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference wide receiver Justin Smith from Norfolk State is playing for Houston. His teammates include ex-Old Dominion defensive lineman Tim Ward and former Indian River High standout linebacker Tavante Beckett, who played for Virginia Tech and Marshall.
The Roughnecks’ reserve list includes former Hampton University tight end James Stanley as an offensive lineman.
Former HU quarterback Deondre Francois is playing for the Orlando Guardians. The Vegas Vipers’ defensive backs coach is Darren Perry, a Deep Creek High and Penn State alum who was a mainstay in the secondary of the Pittsburgh Steelers.