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Ely’s Little League baseball season is in full swing and the ballpark and surrounding area have seen an array of improvements.
A new scoreboard was installed, various electrical upgrades have been made and the sprinkler system is working again, thanks to better than $35,000 in upgrades that have been made since last year.
Major fundraising efforts last year resulted in the new scoreboard and other enhancements, and Little League officials aren’t done yet.
“I think we’re still looking to make a bunch of forward progress,” said Ryan Anderson, president of the Ely Little League.
In all, about 140 area youth take part in Little League activities, starting with T-Ball for kids as young as four years old proceeding all the way to four “Majors” teams with participants as old as age 12.
In 2023, the Little League organization launched an effort to raise funds to make a series of improvements at the field.
They were aided by a donor who matched up to $10,000, and the Little League took on a series of fundraising initiatives that included a “Fill the Bat” campaign, business sponsorships and a baseball-themed carnival at the facility.
It resulted not only in the new scoreboard that has been installed, but many other improvements.
“We put at least $10,000 in electric upgrades to the press box and concession stand,” said Anderson. “A new service feed was huge, and then we did some new concession stand equipment and put in a new PA system.”
In addition, the new scoreboard can operate remotely via wireless internet and Bluetooth technology.
“This is off an app on a phone, which is super, super slick,” said Anderson.
New sprinkler heads got the ballfield sprinkler system back to running order as well.
Artificial mounds have also been purchased for the facility and Anderson indicated that “we’re trying to raise funds to do two more pitching mounds in the batting cages.”
A 50-50 raffle that’s underway is aimed at raising additional money for the various improvements.
“We have lots left that we want to accomplish,” said Anderson. “We’re looking at raising up some of the dirt on the field. We are talking about a concession stand remodel, the press box, edging out the field and trying to really tackle the batting cage.”
Regular season play continues this week for the four Majors teams as well as the teams in the coach pitch division.
For the Majors, the season culminates the week of July 8 with playoff action, the July 11 championship game and the July 12 home run derby.
