TROY, NY- The Tri-City ValleyCats and their partners, BlueShield of Northeastern New York and Hannaford Supermarkets, are set to renovate four youth ball fields on Thursday, April 11th during the 9th Annual ‘4 in 24’ youth field renovation project. Upon completion, over 36 fields will have been revamped by this strong community initiative which has positively impacted thousands of youth ballplayers in the Capital Region and beyond.
The four leagues to be renovated on April 11 will be Green Tech High Charter School, Rensselaer Little League, Broadalbin Little League, and Brunswick Girls Softball. The project will be focused primarily on the infield surface, with the mission to allow for a safe place to learn and play ball.
The scope of work includes laying brand new grass, rebuilding the pitcher’s mound and home plate areas, grading and raking the baselines, installing a new pitching rubber, plate, bases and more.
“First I want to express our gratitude to BlueShield of Northeastern New York and Hannaford Supermarkets for being tremendous partners in this initiative,” said ValleyCats General Manager Matt Callahan. “We all share in the common goal of a bright future for our youth, and this project goes a long way to provide the resources to help them succeed.”
Both longtime supporters of the ‘4 in 24’ project, BlueShield and Hannaford make the renovations possible through the aid of necessary monetary resources, and volunteer efforts of their staff.
“With more than 30 fields renovated over the last nine years, BlueShield’s commitment to the community continues to provide our region’s young athletes access to healthy activities as they grow,” said Nicky Chlopecki, Manager, Community Relations, BlueShield of Northeastern New York. “As a longtime partner of the Tri-City ValleyCats, our employees are eager to rebuild fields alongside the players as they work to make a positive impact in our community.”
“Hannaford is committed to promoting healthy lifestyles at all ages and youth sports are an ideal way to instill the importance of activity and wellness in our community’s youngest members,” said Hannaford Supermarkets Community Relations Specialist Brian Fabre. “We are pleased to continue this partnership with the ValleyCats and BlueShield as we provide local ball players with not only improved facilities, but also the opportunity to grow as individuals and members of a team.”
The renovations will commence at daybreak on Thursday, April 11, with four crews split up among the fields. A press conference will be held at Green Tech High at 9:00 a.m. to officially kick off the project.
The efforts are also supported by Admar Construction Equipment, Brightview, Profile Products / Turface Athletics, and SiteOne Landscape Supplies, who are contributing some of the necessary equipment and materials. Additional support comes from ‘Cats Care, the ValleyCats’ arm of the New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation.
League Snapshots
Green Tech High Charter School
Field Address: 99 Slingerlands Street, Albany, NY, 12202
Opening Day: April 1, 2019
League Information: Green Tech’s baseball team currently plays their home games off site because they don’t have a useable field at their high school. The ValleyCats and their partners will transform an old softball field at the school into a baseball field for their team to call home. The field will also be used for Eastern New York Travel Baseball league games.
League Statement:
“Green Tech is very excited to be getting a new baseball field that the young scholars will be able to play on. It has been tough the last four years finding a place to practice that didn’t require players to travel. Now with a field, the team will operate like a normal program. Green Tech thanks the ValleyCats for their time and effort building a field for the boys at Green Tech.” – Quentin Jensen, Green Tech Director of Athletics
Rensselaer Little League
Field Address: 112 Lawrence Street, Rensselaer, NY, 12144
Opening Day: April 6, 2019
League Information: Rensselaer Little League is utilized by 150 players across 14 teams. Fideli Field has had drainage issues and is need of a leveling of the infield playing surface. The current baselines are not aligned properly, and the pitcher’s mound and home plate area is in disrepair. With these renovations, the field will receive a much needed facelift to the infield surface with brand new sod, infield mix, a complete overhaul of the pitching and home plate areas, and more.
Broadalbin Little League
Field Address: 30 First Avenue, Broadalbin, NY, 12025
Opening Day: May 4, 2019
League Information: The work will focus on the Majors Field at Broadalbin, a league that serves over 160 players with 13 teams. The league was in the process of flipping the current field to avoid sun glare, but was unable to finish due to bad fall weather.
League Statement:
“Without the ValleyCats help, we were facing a decision of possibly not being able to host games for all of our Majors teams and even some of our Minors teams. We still feel like we are dreaming and can’t thank the ValleyCats and their partners enough. This amazing gift will truly benefit our small community for years to come.” – Mike Eglin, Broadalbin Little League President
Brunswick Girls Softball
Field Address: Brunswick Sports Complex, 4165 Route 2, Troy, NY 12180
Opening Day: April 13, 2019
League Information: With 13 teams and over 180 softball players, the renovations to Field 2 at the Brunswick Girls Softball League will go a long way in maintaining a safe field for the athletes to learn and grow.
League Statement:
“The athletes, families, and board of the Brunswick Girls Softball League would like to thank the Tri-City ValleyCats organization as well as their partners, BlueShield of Northeastern New York and Hannaford Supermarkets for awarding us the 4 in 24 field renovation for 2019. We are a small rural league and depend exclusively on volunteers for all aspects of the league including field maintenance. Our field 2 was in dire need of repairs, and the renovation of this field will ensure that all of our athletes share the same great and safe softball experience. We appreciate the ValleyCats commitment to our local communities and the betterment of female centered youth sports.” – Brunswick Girls Softball League
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.