Community Grounds Crew
Since 2003 the ValleyCats field renovation program has assisted with restoring youth baseball fields throughout the community. In 2011 the ValleyCats embarked on an ambitious project known as
'4 in 24,' where in just 24 hours, the 'Cats front office, sponsors and volunteers renovated four youth playing fields.
In 2012 the 'Cats reprised this project while teaming up with BlueShield of Northeastern New York to create the Community Grounds Crew. This crew led the 2nd '4 in 24' program and also assisted with other community-based initiatives from April through September.
The 3rd Annual '4 in 24' youth field renovations are set to take place on Friday, April 12. In a 24 hour time period, Green Island Little League, Hudson Valley Little League in Ravena, Menands Junior Baseball and National Little League of Albany youth fields will have new sod placed on their infield while also seeing their pitcher's mound and homeplate areas rebuilt. .
The '4 in 24' is the kick-off event for the Community Grounds Crew Program. This program will undertake additional projects and renovations on numerous other youth fields throughout the spring and summer.
Leagues interested in having their field considered for other Community Grounds Crew renovations must submit a request form along with photos to the Tri-City ValleyCats.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A REQUEST FORM>>
The field renovation began in 2003 right in the ValleyCats backyard, who together with The Brickman Group, renovated South Troy Little League.
In 2004, the ValleyCats and The Brickman Group refurbished DeMercurio Field at Veterans Memorial Park, home of Albany's American Little League. The work completed at this park included rebuilding of the pitchers' mound and cutting of the baselines. Brickman supplied the materials and the head groundskeeper at Joseph L. Bruno stadium, oversaw the project.
In the spring of 2007, the ValleyCats again teamed up with The Brickman Group to restore the Watervliet Little League field. The work completed on this field included rebuilding of the pitchers' mounds, cutting of the baselines, leveling of the infield, repairs to the warning track, mowing the grass, and general clean-up. The ValleyCats front office staff as well as volunteers from the Watervliet Little League donated their time to make completion of the project possible.
The ValleyCats, The Brickman Group and Capital Communications Federal Credit Union joined together in 2008 to help repair Berkley Park, home of Cohoes Little League.
The details include rebuilding the pitcher's mound to regulation standards, filling in the home plate area and cutting the baselines. The infield was raked and graded and the bases were painted. The warning track has been dug out, re-sodded and crushed stone was laid down.
The tradition continued in 2009 with the partnership of the 'Cats, Brickman and CapCom, as Lansingburgh Little League became the next field to receive a facelift. The challenge during this project was to install a complete warning track, which all of the volunteers were able to do successfully. Yellow fence toppers were also installed on three of Lansingburgh's fields, and a new batting cage net was added along with two backstop pads.
In 2010 the Tri-City ValleyCats embarked on an ambitious project to renovate four local youth playing fields in a twenty-four hour time period. The 'Cats teamed up with Friendly's, Price Chopper, CDTA and The Brickman Group to renovate Westland Hills in Albany, Ballston Spa Jr. Baseball League in Ballston Spa, Northside Little League in Schenectady and Scotia-Glenville Little League in Scotia. The renovations took place on April 15, 2011, with work scheduled around the clock.
For a full recap of the 2011 '4 in 24', please click here.
The '4 in 24' renovation project continued in 2012 with the revamping of youth ball fields from the Cambridge Valley Athletic Association, South Colonie Youth Baseball, Coxsackie Little League and Waterford Little League. Each received much needed improvements to their playing fields. Click here for a full recap of the 2012 '4 in 24' Field Renovation Project.
In 2012 the 'Cats reprised this project while teaming up with BlueShield of Northeastern New York to create the Community Grounds Crew. This crew led the 2nd '4 in 24' program and also assisted with other community-based initiatives from April through September.
The 3rd Annual '4 in 24' youth field renovations are set to take place on Friday, April 12. In a 24 hour time period, Green Island Little League, Hudson Valley Little League in Ravena, Menands Junior Baseball and National Little League of Albany youth fields will have new sod placed on their infield while also seeing their pitcher's mound and homeplate areas rebuilt. .
The '4 in 24' is the kick-off event for the Community Grounds Crew Program. This program will undertake additional projects and renovations on numerous other youth fields throughout the spring and summer.
Leagues interested in having their field considered for other Community Grounds Crew renovations must submit a request form along with photos to the Tri-City ValleyCats.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A REQUEST FORM>>
History of the Field Renovation Program
The field renovation began in 2003 right in the ValleyCats backyard, who together with The Brickman Group, renovated South Troy Little League.
In 2004, the ValleyCats and The Brickman Group refurbished DeMercurio Field at Veterans Memorial Park, home of Albany's American Little League. The work completed at this park included rebuilding of the pitchers' mound and cutting of the baselines. Brickman supplied the materials and the head groundskeeper at Joseph L. Bruno stadium, oversaw the project.
In the spring of 2007, the ValleyCats again teamed up with The Brickman Group to restore the Watervliet Little League field. The work completed on this field included rebuilding of the pitchers' mounds, cutting of the baselines, leveling of the infield, repairs to the warning track, mowing the grass, and general clean-up. The ValleyCats front office staff as well as volunteers from the Watervliet Little League donated their time to make completion of the project possible.
The ValleyCats, The Brickman Group and Capital Communications Federal Credit Union joined together in 2008 to help repair Berkley Park, home of Cohoes Little League.
The details include rebuilding the pitcher's mound to regulation standards, filling in the home plate area and cutting the baselines. The infield was raked and graded and the bases were painted. The warning track has been dug out, re-sodded and crushed stone was laid down.
The tradition continued in 2009 with the partnership of the 'Cats, Brickman and CapCom, as Lansingburgh Little League became the next field to receive a facelift. The challenge during this project was to install a complete warning track, which all of the volunteers were able to do successfully. Yellow fence toppers were also installed on three of Lansingburgh's fields, and a new batting cage net was added along with two backstop pads.
In 2010 the Tri-City ValleyCats embarked on an ambitious project to renovate four local youth playing fields in a twenty-four hour time period. The 'Cats teamed up with Friendly's, Price Chopper, CDTA and The Brickman Group to renovate Westland Hills in Albany, Ballston Spa Jr. Baseball League in Ballston Spa, Northside Little League in Schenectady and Scotia-Glenville Little League in Scotia. The renovations took place on April 15, 2011, with work scheduled around the clock.
For a full recap of the 2011 '4 in 24', please click here.
The '4 in 24' renovation project continued in 2012 with the revamping of youth ball fields from the Cambridge Valley Athletic Association, South Colonie Youth Baseball, Coxsackie Little League and Waterford Little League. Each received much needed improvements to their playing fields. Click here for a full recap of the 2012 '4 in 24' Field Renovation Project.