Group seeks volunteers for Mazeroski Miracle Field
Organizers are sliding into home at Murrysville's Miracle Field.
Landscaping is coming together, the scoreboard is up and volunteers are getting ready for the first pitch on Sept. 8.
“It'll be substantially complete on Friday,” said Harold Hicks, project co-chairman and a member of the Murrysville-Export Rotary Club.
With the five-month construction project wrapping up at the Rotary Miracle Sports Complex, it marks an end to six years of ground work by the Murrysville-Export Rotary Club.
The group has raised more than $1 million to fund a multi-sport complex that will give children and adults the chance to play baseball, basketball and other games, regardless of ability or disability.
One of the final pieces was being constructed Wednesday — one of two donated rain gardens. Workers from Plumline Nursery of Plum were busy planting trees and grasses in a 50-foot circle in the parking lot.
“The plants are going to be able to survive in a water environment,” said employee Dan Parchuke.
The plants — including perennial sedum, ornamental grasses, a serviceberry tree and a black gum tree — are native to Pennsylvania, he said.
A second rain garden donated by Esposito Landscaping in Murrysville is complete at the complex in the municipality's community park.
Nearby, spectators soon will be cheering on players.
The Bill Mazeroski Miracle Field is complete with a rubberized surface colored green, red and white to look like grass, dirt and bases. Bleachers are screened from the sun and a fence surrounds the field, which is larger than other Miracle Fields to allow adult players.
“It's as much about the parents and the siblings as it is about the kids on the field,” Hicks said.
Twenty-nine players have signed up to play in the inaugural baseball game. An exhibition basketball game will be played simultaneously on the UPMC Freegame Court, a feature unique to the Murrysville facility.
The court has a rubberized surface and is outfitted for net-oriented games such as basketball, soccer and dek hockey.
“Really, the sky's the limit to what you can do on this part of the field,” Hicks said.
But for all of those activities to flourish, the group needs volunteers. The Miracle League is looking for volunteers 12 and older to work as buddies, buddy team leaders, managers, team parents, umpires and announcers for the fall and future seasons.
Buddies are among the most important volunteers, organizers said. Buddies help and protect players during games, working one-on-one with individual players. Because of schedule conflicts for volunteers, buddies are always in demand. Buddy team leaders are in charge of organizing the buddies for each team.
Previous experience isn't necessary for any of the positions. The only requirement, organizers said, is a great attitude and the desire to make a difference.
Staff writer Daveen Rae Kurutz contributed to this report. Renatta Signorini is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-837-5374 or rsignorini@tribweb.com.
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For more information about volunteering with the Miracle League, contact Harold Hicks at 412-860-8709 or HHicks@accfirepro.com or see www.miracleleaguewpa.com.
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If you go ...
What: Opening day at the Bill Mazeroski Miracle Field. An inaugural baseball game an exhibition basketball game will be played following opening ceremonies.
When: Sept. 8 at 11 a.m.
Where: Murrysville Community Park
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