It’s good to see that the work — and money — poured into the main baseball diamond in Central Park will be put to good use this spring and summer.
The newly formed Ashland Junior/Senior Leagues have scheduled nightly games at Ernie Chattin Field (aka CP-1).
When CP-1 alum Gary Wright plopped down $125,000 to refurbish the park field three years ago, it was his wish that CP-1 not only have some resortation done to be a showpiece for the city, but for it to also be better utilized for games by youth baseball leagues.
The park has been mostly underused since Ashland built its own high school field several years ago and the Ashland Babe Ruth League acquired the use of the AK Steel Sports Park off Blackburn Avenue.
Rose Hill Christian School has played in the park since 2002 but the Royals may or may not have enough players to field a team this spring.
Ashland Post 76 calls the park its home field but the Legion season doesn’t even start until June.
So when the Junior/Senior League went looking for a new home, the park was the ideal choice for spring and early summer games.
Many were upset and even angry over the Junior/Senior League, which works under the arm of Little League, being formed. They saw it as being developed only to push aside the 50-year-old Ashland Babe Ruth League that had a strong tradition.
But in the end, both sides agreed that the merger of Ashland Babe Ruth into the Junior/Senior League was the right decision for the youth in Ashland and Westwood.
For one thing, being in the Junior/Senior League will allow Ashland to play against other Junior/Senior Leagues in Russell, Greenup, Raceland and Lewis counties among others.
The Babe Ruth League, which once included leagues from all surrounding counties, no longer had that option. Boyd County was the only area county still playing under Babe Ruth.
The initial Junior/Senior League will have two managers from the Ashland American Little League, two from the Ashland National Little League and two from the former Babe Ruth League.
“Everybody seems to be united,” said John Vincent, the president of the Ashland Junior/Senior League.
The Babe Ruth League had dwindled to four or five teams and lacked the punch of its predecessors. It was wobbly to say the least.
Some of the problem rested with the players in the league choosing summer league basketball or passing league football over baseball. There was no commitment to the league.
But now, with the games being played mostly in the evening at the park, the players may be able to do a
little of everything. While that can be tasking for young athletes, at least they have the option of hanging with baseball a little longer.
And if they get a taste of CP-1 — especially the CP-1 as it stands now, with a shiny new look to it — including those spacious dugouts and a brick press box — they may find baseball to be even more appealing.
Baseball in the park is still baseball in the park. There’s not a better venue to watch a game. The trees provide some cool shade for patrons who come out to watch.
And these players will have some new fans. Many of those who walk the park in the spring and summer will stop by and watch a game if one’s going on. It looks like there’s going to be a lot of activity again.
You’re also a little closer to the action, with the gap between home plate and press box closed up considerably. It’s no longer a catcher’s nightmare when a ball gets past him.
There have been many great moments in Central Park for many generations.
Now it looks like there’s another generation ready to make some more memories. Maybe CP-1 can be their field of dreams, too.
MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648.
