Marble Falls ISD softball park to get improvements

CAPTION: A 30-foot meeting system that extends from one dugout to the other is one part of the work that will be do everything at Scearce Softball Field. Staff photos by Jennifer Fierro 

Marble Falls High School’s Scearce Softball Field will receive facility improvements after the school district’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the work and payment during its regular meeting May 19.

American Constructors will install a 30-foot tall new backstop netting from one dugout to the other with extended netting over the first base dugout; grade a new bullpen and install decomposed granite and regrade the home bullpen; install new helmet racks; paint the backstop wall, handrails, ticket booth, press box, helmet racks and scoreboard supports; and install new backstop pads.

Assistant Superintendent Stan Whittle offered further clarification.

“Also looking at adding a bullpen area to our visitor side where their pitchers can warm up and get ready during the games,” he said to the trustees. “We have a bullpen that’s at the home side, but that needs to be reworked and regraded. Put some foundation base for decomposed granite in the bullpen areas.”

He noted the netting system “would decrease the number of foul balls that are going into the bleachers cause it would be taller.”

“But also the overall viewing experience for the fans to get that updated,” he said.

American Constructors will be responsible for supplying materials and completing construction.

“With all of those items, looking at a total of $136,658, and we feel like this will get us a good start,” Whittle said.

Payment will come from the remaining balance of the 2018 bond.

Whittle said that Marble Falls ISD Bond Director Mackie Price, athletic director Keri Timmerman and softball head coach Alex Lozoya have met and walked the facility “numerous times.”

“(They) have identified needs, areas that we need to address to get our softball field improvements started,” he said.

Board Vice President Mandy McCary pointed out that at some point, construction for the new multipurpose facility will begin where the existing Scearce Baseball Field is located.

Currently, the two ball parks are within 30 yards of one another.

“I’m just imagining construction going on where the old baseball field is,” she said. “Will there be any damage to the softball field? I’m just saying – make sure that if we invest money there, that it’s going to be fine. There’s not going to be construction vehicles parked on it or anything weird like that. Right? It doesn’t seem like we’ve given softball any love in years.”

Dr. Jeff Gasaway, Marble Falls ISD superintendent, said more is coming for the softball park.

“There’s funds, not only for the turf allocated to softball,” he said. “There’s $300,000 for their facilities that’s addressed in prop A of the (2025) bond. Like Stan said, the final components not spelled in the bond or what we’re doing tonight is some regrading that will be addressed when we do the turf and some fencing that will be done. By the end of the work is done, I think it will be a much, much different place.” 

Whittle told the board members their approval meant the work beginning Monday, June 2.

“And then later we would be able to look at several other items that we address; drainage on the field can be addressed when they put in the new turf and then also some grading and drainage over at the clubhouse area,” he said. “And we’ll also need to look at fencing after the turf gets put in.” 

CAPTION: A new bullpen for the visiting team also will be constructed. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro