I believe that the opportunity to have a first class, two-field baseball complex in Coeur d'Alene would be a win-win situation for our community.

Preliminary plans call for two artificial turf fields, with at least one of the fields having lights. In addition to a beautiful playing surface, the adequate seating, parking and concessions would provide a quality family environment for any kind of baseball event.

The first win is that local teams of all ages could look forward to playing at this facility. In other parts of the country, the combination of lights and turf allow such a complex to be used literally 24 hours a day, often with Youth leagues during the day and evening and Adult leagues at night. Other than teams raking the mound between games, there is basically no field maintenance involved with such a turfed complex.

The second win would be the opportunity to host tournaments and welcome visitors to our community during the spring, summer and fall baseball seasons. Currently, the five-day Fourth of July Wood Bat Tournament, directed by the Spokane American Legion, draws more than 40 teams to our area each year. Each of these teams brings approximately 20 players and coaches, in addition to friends and family traveling to enjoy the Coeur d'Alene/Spokane area. A new baseball complex would enhance the involvement of the Coeur d'Alene community in such tournaments.

I know that Coeur d'Alene has had a strong baseball heritage for decades. My first involvement was back during the Red Halpern days in the early ‘60s when I played in legion games at Person's Field against Charlie Nipp and other outstanding local athletes. I was the Head Baseball Coach at Central Valley High School during the ‘70s when the Coeur d'Alene Vikings and Central Valley Bears competed in the Border League. Today's community leaders such as Terry Gittel, Tom Seibert, Dave Church and others played on those dominant Viking teams.

As an area scout for the Philadelphia Phillies, I've seen a steady stream of college and professional quality baseball players coming out of Coeur d'Alene over the years. Names like Gatten, Schreiber, Schroeder, Turrell, Banducci, Greenfield, Winger, Bridges, Hoorlebeck, Brown, Vucinich and Austin, to mention a few.

Under the leadership of Jack Bloxom and Jim Headley, the North Idaho College baseball program thrived over the years, providing opportunity for local players to continue their careers.

Today, hundreds of elementary and middle schoolers play summer ball in our Youth programs. The Youth Baseball facilities in Coeur d'Alene and Hayden are now among the most beautiful in the Northwest.

Even greater things will happen in baseball in Coeur d'Alene when we have this new complex. Who knows, maybe we can even bring baseball back to NIC? How about a college summer team where our local players can play in front of their home fans? How about hosting a few games each spring for the perennial national powerhouse Lewis-Clark State Warriors?

Coeur d'Alene has always been a "can-do" community, especially when it comes to the youth, and my prediction is that "When we build it, they will come."

HARRY AMEND

Coeur d'Alene