Let's play ball?

Since the spring, it has been the intention of Platte Valley Little League (PVLL) to find a permanent home for their program. This year, the non-profit group was able to be hosted at Wood’s Field for practice and games. The intention was clear since the beginning, however, that PVLL was interested in rehabilitating at least one of the fields south of the Saratoga Branch Library.

At the Sept. 20 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council, PVLL member Ben Spaulding addressed the council about his frustrations with the lack of progress. Earlier in the meeting, Councilmember Steve Wilcoxson introduced former Town of Saratoga Engineer Chuck Bartlett, who informed the council about the struggles he had with ridding the field of prairie dogs and gophers.

“There was a lot of prairie dogs, a lot of gophers. I know, at one point in time, the police department went up and tried to shoot some of them with .22 shorts. We tried flooding them out. I think we took our water truck up to one of the prairie dog holes, stuck the hose in, drained 2,000 gallons into the hole and none of it ever surfaced,” said Bartlett.

Bartlett added that the Town of Saratoga had also ran chicken wire around the fence of the baseball field approximately two feet into the ground along with prairie dog fence. While that had, according to Bartlett, partially addressed the issue with the prairie dogs, there was still an issue with the gophers.

Following Bartlett’s history of the baseball fields near the library, Wilcoxson stated that he felt it was in the best interest of the Town of Saratoga to pursue purchasing Wood’s Field. When Spaulding spoke to the council under public comment, he stated that he did not believe that the town could afford the purchase.

“If my simple math addition adds up, the town does not have the money to pay for baseball fields down at Wood’s Field,” said Spaulding.

Spaulding added that he believed that the cost for Wood’s Field was, at least, $500,000.

“We need to have another spot. We have 70 kids involved in baseball. We had a great program this year, we had so much support, so many donations. We’re still getting donations, we’re still getting people that are wanting to donate to this program, which is beneficial because there’s not a lot for the kids to do in the summertime and in the springtime,” Spaulding said. 

Spaulding, who also serves on the Saratoga Recreation Commission, informed the council that the commission had voted unanimously to pursue using $25,000 set aside for the program by the Town of Saratoga.

“My question for you is; if the town’s broke, we don’t have any other option and we’ve had people come up and tell us over and over again and tell us that baseball field is not viable to plant grass and maintaining grass on, what is your suggestion?” asked Councilmember Bob Keel.

Spaulding replied, stating that it was possible to look at Kathy Glode Park or the lot owned by the Town of Saratoga across from the South Central Wyoming Emergency Medical Services ambulance barn.

“I would love to play at Wood’s Field. I would love to continue the tradition that we started this year to carry on, but I don’t think it’s a feasible option,” said Spaulding.

Councilmember Jon Nelson told Spaulding that, if the recreation commission had recommended to follow through with rehabilitation of the baseball fields by the library, he would support that decision.

Wilcoxson, again, stressed the issue with the prairie dogs and stated that it was a liability issue for the Town of Saratoga. The council member added that he believed that the town would be putting itself at risk of more liability by allowing the PVLL program to use the fields.

“I’m going to tell you, come next year, if we don’t have something going you’re going to have 70 kids that aren’t going to play baseball. I can’t do it on one field in Encampment,” Spaulding said. “I can’t do it.”

It was at that point that Wilcoxson raised the idea, which he credited to Mayor John Zeiger, of donating the fields to PVLL. In discussion between the council and attorney Tom Thompson, Thompson said he would have to look into it but that he didn’t believe the town council could contract the liability away.

Spaulding told the council he would take the offer to the PVLL board at a special meeting, which was scheduled for Sept. 23. At that meeting, the PVLL board unanimously decided to continue pursuing the fields by the library.

Spaudling also asked for members to show up at the next town council meeting.

The next meeting of the Saratoga Town Council will be at 6 p.m. on Oct. 1 at Saratoga Town Hall.