With the crack of a bat, and a smile, it's baseball season once again at Violet's Field in St. Petersburg.
- Miracle League receives new field from local company
- The old field had become difficult to play on
- The new field will be installed this summer
For almost 12 years, playing ball with the Miracle League of Pinellas County has been the highlight of Dane Steward and his grandmother Muriel's week.
"Better here than at the doctor, and better here than in the hospital," she said. "They get to play ball and they have nothing to worry about."
But with over a decade of wear and tear, the Miracle League decided that this was the year they would push to raise money for a new field. To make it safe for everyone, it wasn't going to be cheap, and as of two weeks ago the group had only raised about $12,000.
The field was becoming difficult to play on, with gaps between pieces of rubber, it was dangerous for canes, walkers, and wheelchairs.
Last week the Toby Hall Foundation shared the Miracle League's story with a local company, UltraBaseSystems, who decided to donate a brand new field.
"Once all of this is removed, we'll come in with our crews and put down a new field, then they'll stripe it and be ready to play. We're talking maybe a three-day turnaround," said the company's president David Barlow.
The new field will be installed this summer. The Miracle League of Pinellas County is open to anyone and everyone, free of charge.