Bulldog Boosters Get Okay to Build Baseball Facility

The DeKalb West School Bulldog Baseball Boosters Club plans to build a 40 x 100 foot facility on campus which is to include hitting cages, restrooms, concession stand, storage, office, and locker room.
The Board of Education gave approval for the project during Thursday night’s regular monthly meeting held at Smithville Elementary School.
“The baseball boosters approached me about wanting to build a hitting building to the side of the baseball field. Funding would be through them (boosters). They started this process several years ago by saving money through their fundraisers. They’re getting to the point now where they can start. But we haven’t done anything until we get board approval to break ground if that is something you allow us to do,” said DeKalb West School Principal Sabrina Farler.
“It is to be multipurpose. We want to have a concession stand rather than the portable building we now have there. It will also have two public restrooms in addition to the locker room, hitting cages, batting cages, and things like that,” said Tony Cross, Booster Club President.
“I think we can do this for less than $40,000. What we would like to do this summer after school is out is to do the shell of the building and a concrete slab with all the plumbing. I think we can do that for just under $20,000. We have a 5K fundraiser that is doing really well and it runs Saturday morning. Initially we would like to put up the slab and the exterior of the building. Eighty percent of the building is batting cages and lanes. That could be used next baseball season. Just to be able to get in and out of the rain. I’ve talked with Earl (Jared), School System Maintenance Supervisor. I want to work hand in hand with him on what he wants as far as the bathrooms and things like that because if they are helping us service it we’re going to do it like he needs it done. We initially want to get some things done this summer and we’ll continue on with fundraisers to raise the remainder of the money. We’d like to have it (project) done next year,” said Cross.