Rally to Retrofit War Memorial Stadium-Hampton, VA

THE VIRGINIA PENINSULA'S OUTDOOR LIVING ROOM

In 2001, Community Baseball, LLC began operating as the Peninsula Pilots Baseball Club at Peninsula War Memorial Stadium in Hampton, VA.  The ballpark, which had dutifully served professional baseball on the Virginia Peninsula since its construction in 1948, was largely in disrepair and in need of significant renovation.  The site that was constructed by Branch Rickey, supported by Jackie Robinson, and served as host to Satchel Paige's final professional pitch, Barry Bonds' first professional hit, Nearly every system was nursed along with patches, duct tape and temporary remedies for the first six years of the Pilots existence.  Meanwhile, the team worked to establish a fan base worthy of proving that College Baseball, outdoor family entertainment and an affordable community atmosphere were viable enough to remove the site from a list of properties slated to be razed and repurposed.  By 2006, a passionate base of fans and supporters not only saved the park, but inspired a new outlook on investment into the community treasure.  Previously, the Newport News Apprentice School and Pilots Caretaker, Henry Morgan, had been the only active source of capital at the park by way of private financial contributions to leasehold improvements.  Now, fueled by public support and a belief in the impact of the Stadium on quality of life, the City of Hampton began participating in valuable new ways.  

2006 - New field lights and new dugouts 
2008 - New scoreboard and sound system
2010 - New grandstands roof and press box 
2012 - Kid's play area and field irrigation system
2013 - Brick walls, dugouts and handicapped ramps
2014 - New backstop safety net system (2014),
2015 - new stadium seats in box seating area
2017 - new bullpens and batting cage in LF and RF corners
2018 - a new LED marquee at Pembroke Avenue entrance, re-paved and striped parking lots & lighting

COMING IN 2020

New entryway fan pavilion, restrooms, concessions & training facility
Modern drainage system and NEW FIELD OF PLAY!

USE AND ATTENDANCE

Approximately 100,000 fans and participants per year now utilize the ballpark, located at 1889 W. Pembroke Avenue.  The facility is in use about 250 days per calendar year between our beloved Pilots' home games, Newport News Apprentice School college games and practices, Adult co-ed kickball games, Youth baseball tournaments, High School baseball games/championships, Festivals and Concerts.

WEAR, UPKEEP AND EXPENSE


As you might imagine, this level of use places an extreme demand on facility upkeep, particularly in the area of the playing field itself.  Especially given limited resources and a small staff, the effort to grow, maintain and manicure the grass and clay surfaces becomes a daunting task at the park, which has very poor innate soil and drainage.  The associated costs and time demands of this requisite aspect of our operation has become a heavy burden - especially given our commitment to keeping customer costs at a minimum.  That said, the mere frequency of use days makes it impossible or us to present a championship level playing surface to any of our tenants.  Transitions between grass, dirt and stone dust are constantly worn and high traffic areas simply don't have enough rest time to recuperate effectively. 


RAINOUTS, CANCELLATIONS, RAKES, TARPS AND TURFACE

In 2018, six (6) of the Pilots' final eight (8) scheduled game days were cancelled due to rain and unplayable field conditions.  The team stood atop the Coastal Plain League with a record of 26-15 when at the end of play on July 23rd.  Just as the they were preparing for another Championship run in the Postseason, the team was forced out of action on ten (10) of the season's final twelve (12) calendar days.  After losing 9-8 on July 26th at Edenton the players sat idle for nine days before finally managing to squeeze in a doubleheader on the regular season's final day.  Game one of the postseason fell on the next day, and the rusty group allowed three runs in the first inning to Division rival Wilson prior to falling 4-3, ending their once promising journey.  The cancellation of the four (4) consecutive key home games also served as a hit to the team's financial bottom line as well as the fan base's enthusiasm.  The same calendar year saw the forced cancellation of two of the Newport News Apprentice School's flagship Spring tournaments that are central to their scheduling initiatives.  If the stadium had featured an artificial turf playing surface that year, none of those events would have been forced to be cancelled.  Instead, thousands of dollars were spent in vein on drying agents, man hours, fuel and equipment.  The lost revenue from not being able to play the games combined with the expenses incurred from TRYING to get them in conspired to put the organization in a difficult financial position just as the season wound down and many bills came due.  

Similar scenarios have been encountered throughout the twenty year history of the team's tenure at the stadium.  Within its mission, the Pilots aim to promote baseball, serve and entertain the Hampton Roads community, create healthy activities for area youth and families, and provide amateur athletes with a platform to develop their skills and character as they pursue their dreams.  These things are difficult to achieve when resources are compromised and/or activity is halted due to inclement conditions.

With no drainage system in place, rainwater sits in many areas as it waits to dissipate through surface runoff or evaporation.
Expensive and cumbersome tarpaulins are used to attempt to preserve field conditions, but are only partially effective and time consuming.
Significant man hours and equipment are spent, many times in vain, preparing the surface for play, limiting the time the coaching staff can dedicate to developing and preparing players for success.  
The cost of fuel, equipment, drying agent and seasonal treatments add up quickly and divert resources away from players, fans and employees.

A REMEDY IS AT HAND!

WE NEED YOU PILOTSNATION!

The City of Hampton recently appropriated funds to improve drainage at the park, and EXCITING NEW OPPORTUNITY has arisen to retrofit the playing surface above to compliment those improvements.  More than $600K is being invested by the City to install a modern subsurface drainage system, professionally laser grade, remove and replace soils and lay in a brand new TAHOMA 31 Bermuda-grass outfield playing surface.  

The Newport News Apprentice School and the Peninsula Pilots have committed to installing a cutting edge B1K [Shaw Sportsturf] artificial surface in the infield and warning track.  The benefits and impact to each program will be immense!  

-Drastic reduction in MOWING expense
-Drastic reduction in WATER CONSUMPTION
-Drastic reduction in EQUIPMENT and depreciation
-Drastic reduction in CHEMICAL APPLICATIONS
-Reduced need to EDGE & GROOM clay and stone surfaces
-Elimination of field marking PAINT
-Drastic reduction in FERTILIZER application
-Drastic reduction in PRE-GAME PREPARATION
-Drastic reduction in RAINOUTS AND CANCELLATIONS
-Dramatic improvement in FIELD APPEARANCE AND PLAYABILITY
-Increased flexibility to effectively host NON-BASEBALL EVENTS
-Enhanced customer confidence in PLANNING their attendance
-Ability to EXPAND CALENDAR OF EVENTS
-MUCH MUCH MORE!

The links below offer more insight into the Shaw B1K turf product that is being pursued for War Memorial Stadium:

Daily Press Article and Video About Stadium Improvement Projects 
Natural Grass and Advanced Artificial Turf Can Coexist 
Shaw B1K Sports Turf Installed at Chase Field in Phoenix 
Short Video On B1K Turf Development 

The total cost to the tenants [Peninsula Pilots & NN Apprentice School] for this vital enhancement is $150K to be split evenly, leaving the Pilots with an immediate need to raise $75K to see this project through to completion by January.  The project must be funded and completed before the first pitch of the A-School's first game this Spring, so a target date of January 1st, 2020 has been set.  As you can see below, construction is ALREADY WELL UNDERWAY!  

Kerrick Construction and T Mac Wilder & Associates began stripping the clay-ridden, compacted & tired infield surface at War Memorial Stadium in mid-September.
By the 3rd week of September, contractors had already installed the main trunk and outfall drains below ground level and prepared the outfield for soil amendment and sodding of TAHOMA 31 Bermuda.

PAY IT FORWARD
Any donation you can make to this project will live far into the future.  Those that enjoy it will cherish it, those that make it will have benefitted from it, and those that fall short will be better off having strived for it.

“It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams.” Gabriel Garcia Marquez

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF SUPPORT
Even if you are unable to give at this time, please consider supporting by spreading the word.  Like and share both on & off-line and help us reach those that are inclined and able to support!

BREIF TEAM BACKGROUND NOTES
A RICH TRADITION AND A BRIGHT FUTURE
Washington Nationals infielder was a member of the 2003 Pilots following his freshman season at the University of Virginia.
Oakland Athletics super-utility player Chad Pinder was a member of the 2011 Pilots following his freshman season at Virginia Tech.Detroit Tigers pitcher Buck Farmer was a member of the 2010 Pilots following his freshman season at Georgia Tech.
Minnesota Twins outfielder Jake Cave was a member of the 2011 Pilots following his senior season at Kecoughtan High School.
Oakland Athletics pitcher Jharel Cotton was a member of the 2010 and 2012 Pilots while at Miami-Dade College and East Carolina University.
Former Toronto Blue Jays, Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Angels pitcher Deck McGuire was a member of the 2008 Pilots following his freshman season at Georgia Tech.
Former Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles pitcher Josh Rupe was a member of the 2001 Pilots following his freshman season at Louisburg College.
Former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Chris Rowley was a member of the 2012 Pilots following his junior season at ARMY (USMA).
Former San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder John Bowker was a member of the 2002 Pilots following his freshman season at Long Beach State University.
Former Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals infielder Tug Hulett was a member of the 2002 Pilots following his freshman season at Auburn University.
Former Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ian Thomas was a member of the 2008 Pilots following his junior season at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The Pilots have reached the Coastal Plain League Playoffs 18 times in 20 seasons since their birth in 2000.  They have won the League's Petitt Cup Championship Title twice;  winning back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014.
The 2014 team reeled off an eye-popping 48-18 overall record including a 7-5 victory over the Team USA Collegiate National Team en route to a second consecutive League crown.
The 2013 team became the first Pilots team to win the Coastal Plain League Title.  The 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2016 teams reached the final before falling in heartbreaking fashion.