Bay baseball 60th anniversary celebration and dedication

The Bay High Rockets varsity baseball team and Bay Village dignitaries commemorate 60 years of Bay Men's Club Baseball. Photo by Marilee MacAskill

Saturday, April 26, was a beautiful day for high school baseball. Bay Rockets Varsity and JV teams played on home fields against Avon Lake, immediately following a field dedication and 60th anniversary commemoration ceremony of Bay Men's Baseball.

As Stewart Watterson, director of Bay Men's Club Baseball, stated: "We are really celebrating two milestones today. One is the recognition of the 60th anniversary of Bay Men's Baseball. This is a volunteer group which has been organizing the City's recreational baseball leagues for boys 7 to 18 years old since 1954. The program has stayed true to its goal of 'every kid who wanted to play ball was given the chance' by never turning a boy away for lack of fees or equipment. These are always provided when needed by the families of our community. Several of our volunteers are in attendance today, some of which have served for 30 plus years!

"The second is the rededication of the Bay High's baseball facilities. The Bay Village school administration, Bay Rockets Boosters, parents, and Bay Men's Baseball have banded together to make an investment to significantly upgrade our baseball facilities. Over the past three years field surface, drainage, irrigation, fencing, scoreboard, dugouts, bleachers have all been replaced or renovated.

"In addition, through the collaboration of community organizations and vested Bay Village residents, additions have been made to the facility including a new batting cage facility, pitching machines, batting practice screens, and outfield screening. We see this as lasting memorial to our community's commitment to our children's development as young adults and through their athletic pursuits."

Ninety percent of the boys playing baseball at Bay High School today started their baseball career in Bay Men's Club Baseball.

Read More on Recreation
Volume 6, Issue 9, Posted 9:32 AM, 04.29.2014