A field of youthful dreams
Dr Pepper Youth Ballpark reopens 'a swing away from the big leagues'
By MITCH MITCHELL
Star-Telegram staff writer
ARLINGTON -- One of the city's premier youth baseball diamonds came close to being a dream relocated.
Instead, the Dr Pepper Youth Ballpark, which stands in the northern shadows of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, is a dream improved, baseball and city officials said Saturday during its unveiling.
"Sometimes you can look at a map and see hearts and faces," said Breon Dennis, senior director of the youth ballpark.
When the roads surrounding the Rangers Ballpark were being reimagined two years ago, there was talk of relocating the youth ballpark to make way for those street improvements. The idea was rejected, Rangers Vice President Jim Sundberg said.
The youth ballpark motto, "A swing away from the big leagues," might not have fit had the park been moved, Dennis said.
On Saturday, youths from four Texas teams gathered to play at the revamped structure.
"This makes us feel like we're really playing at a major league park," said Cy-Fair Bobcat Tyler Rand, 11.
Some things did change. A 20-foot-tall retaining wall replaced the left-field fence, the distances between home plate and the outfield fence were lengthened, and see-through screening was installed along the newly paved Baird Farm Road to allow fans to watch games from the sidewalk.
"These things are very special," Rangers President Nolan Ryan said. "This is the level where dreams are started."
mitchmitchell@star-telegram.com
MITCH MITCHELL, 817-548-5411
Triple Crown Labor Day Classic
Oak Grove Park in Grapevine, Tx
September 2, 2007
What a game! The championship game in the Labor Day Classic will be one to remember. With time expired, Team Texas was winning 5 to 1 going into the top of the sixth inning. The next thing you know the Coppell Cowboys went ahead 9 to 5. Everyone was thinking that is alot to overcome. One to two runs ok, but 4. Bottom of the sixth the boys tied it up 9 to 9. In the top of seventh innng the Cowboys went ahead again, 13 to 9. After falling behind twice, the team never hung their heads. The team just kept on battling and believing in one another until they won.
I have never seen a game like that and probably won't again. Everyone should be very proud of the team. All I can say is WOW WHAT A GAME!
