IN SPORTS: WORK UNDERWAY ON GALT STADIUM
GALT — One more season. That’s what the Galt and Liberty Ranch football teams will have playing their home games on the Erv Hatzenbuler Field at Warrior Stadium on the Galt High campus this season. Then next season, the Warriors and Hawks, who have been sharing the same stadium since 2009, will become a thing of the past.
Before Galt High held its Class of 2017 graduation ceremonies last month, the old, wooden bleachers on the home side and press box at Warrior Stadium were torn down, along with the removal of the visitor’s bleachers. Temporary alumni bleachers were installed on the home side. Bleachers are that are used for Galt High baseball games were moved to the visitor’s side.
At this time, there is no press box behind the home bleachers. But according to Kevin Clemons, director of technology, maintenance and operations for the Galt Joint Union High School District, a 12 feet by 24 feet platform is scheduled to be built behind the top center of temporary home bleachers on Aug. 24. Mike Brown Grandstands Inc. of Irwindale is the rental company that will install the press box.
“We will be using a portable sound system and will cover the press box (platform) with a portable shade canopy,” Clemons said.
Clemons said that the work on Liberty Ranch’s stadium, which will include artificial turf, an all-weather track and stadium lights, is scheduled for bid next month. In September or October, the construction would start. The Hawks’ stadium should be completed by next April.
After the end of this upcoming football season in November, Warrior Stadium, too, will
also go through its partial face-lift. That will include new home grandstands and press box. Clemons said that the existing field, track and lighting will remain until future bond sale. Clemons said that the work done at Warrior Stadium should also be completed April 2018. Measure E and K are the bonds that were passed by Galt area voters last November.
Galt football coach Jermaine Allen said he’s proud that Galt High Principal Kellie Beck and the school district’s administration and school board have done a “really good job” in upgrading Warrior Stadium.
“It’s way past due,” Allen said. “I’m really pleased with the effort. I just want us to have a place to play ... we’re excited.”
Allen added that the Warriors plan to dedicate this upcoming season to former Galt football coach Erv Hatzenbuhler, who led the Warriors to many league titles and SacJoaquin Section playoff appearances and crowns during two tenures; 1967 to ’89 and 2003 to ’05. Hatzenbuhler died in his sleep at his Galt home on Dec. 28, 2016.
Liberty Ranch Athletic Director Anthony Linebaugh, who’s also the school’s football coach, said that knowing at this time next summer, Liberty Ranch will have its own field to practice and play home games is thrilling.
“Very exciting,” Linebaugh said. “Our student body, administration, staff, students, everyone is really excited to finally play games on campus. The (Liberty Ranch track and field program) is able to participate at home and practices. The (school’s boys and girls soccer programs) are very excited.”
Galt will open its season with three consecutive road games at Ripon, Linden and Valley of Sacramento — the latter game will be played at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento. Then the Warriors will play their first home game of the season against Mira Loma of Sacramento on Friday, Sept. 22. Four of their next six games will be played at home.
Liberty Ranch will play its first home game at Warrior Stadium on Friday, Sept. 1 against Los Banos. That non-league is the first of three consecutive home games for the Hawks, who will entertain Franklin on Sept. 8 and Escalon on Sept. 15.
Galt and Liberty Ranch will play their cross-town and Sierra Valley Conference finale at Warrior Stadium on Nov. 3.