Murrysville's new Miracle Field honors Pirates legend Mazeroski

Renatta Signorini
Thursday, June 28, 2012 12:26 a.m. | Thursday, June 28, 2012 12:26 a.m.

Pittsburgh Pirates' Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski (left) greets Kurt Kimmich of Murrysville and his son Ben, 5, following a naming ceremony for the Bill Mazeroski Miracle Field at Murrysville Community Park on June 27, 2012. The field has been designed to accommodate special needs children and adults. Kimmich and his wife, Amy, have been involved in raising funds and awareness for the project and look forward to the time when Ben, who has Down syndrome, can play there. Guy Wathen | Tribune-Review

Aleah Walendziewicz, 10, of Oakmont, and her brother Joshua, 11, play during a tour of the Bill Mazeroski Miracle Field following a naming ceremony at Murrysville Community Park on June 27, 2012. The field has been designed to accommodate children and adults with special needs. Guy Wathen | Tribune-Review

Dan Lucas doesn't care what position he plays; he just wants to get on the field.

“Anything is good,” said the former Murrysville resident.

Lucas, 31, and plenty of other area baseball enthusiasts will be able to swing a bat and don a glove in September when Murrysville's Miracle Field is completed.

Donors, community members and future players got a chance to check out the Rotary Miracle Sports Complex off Wiestertown Road in Murrysville Community Park during a naming ceremony on Wednesday. Tours were held of the under-construction multisport complex that will give children and adults the chance to play, regardless of ability or disability.

The project is being spearheaded by the Murrysville-Export Rotary Club, which has raised $1.4 million since revealing the plans in 2006. The club's goal is $1.8 million, which will enable it to complete a concession stand that includes restrooms and storage.

“That's the piece we're looking for really to complete this project,” said co-chairman and Rotary member Nick Dorsch to a group of about 50.

Dorsch and co-chairman Harold Hicks thanked the donors and praised the various partnerships that have made the field possible. Ground was broken in April, and games could start in September. The project is on schedule.

“This is not a job. When you do something out of love, it is never a job,” Hicks said.

The field was named after Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski in yesterday's ceremony. The 75-year-old Mazeroski stepped back to take a look at the temporary sign, chuckled and said, “All right.”

He later recalled his childhood memories of playing baseball and said he hopes the field can provide that to others.

The baseball field is bigger than most Miracle Fields to accommodate adult players, organizers said.

Along with the baseball field with a rubberized surface, the complex will feature playgrounds, a fenced court for net-oriented games, concessions and a walking trail.

Registration will begin in the next few weeks for players, umpires, volunteers and “buddies” for players.

Renatta Signorini is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-837-5374.

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