League Happy With Executive Committee’s Decision

By Robert Thomas

The house that Veterans built.

In all apologies to the late Babe Ruth it’s an analogy for the 1946 construction of Memorial Field.

There won’t be any World Series games or even practices ever held there. Not even close.

But for the users’ groups who now play on Memorial Field’s Lyle Helland Diamond the decision by Executive Committee is as good as one of the Bambino’s crushing home runs.

“It’s the decision we wanted I guess. We knew the grandstands needed to go as they were in dire straights,” Crystal Kober-McCubbing president of the Moose Jaw Ladies Slo-Pitch said.

“We were just looking at preserving the ball field itself and maintaining it so all of the leagues that play there can still play there,” Kober-McCubbing told MJ Independent just after exiting the Council Chambers on Monday.

Executive Committee minutes earlier had just voted to demolish the present grandstand, rebuild the entryway and do major upgrades at a cost of $258,220.

Crystal Kober-McCubbing president of the Moose Jaw Ladies Slo-Pitch League listens to Executive Committee’s discussion - MJ Independent photo

Although it was one of four options in a report from Administration the option of demolishing the 78 year old structure and shutting down the ball field was not even discussed.

Another option (Option Two) that was considered was the demolition of the grandstand, creating a wooden entry, upgrades to the infrastructure and expanding the ball field by 15 feet.

The only hitches were this option was $44,000 more and it meant the field would not be operational for a year.

She was a realist in what to expect from Memorial Field.

“If Option Two helps in the long run to be able to host national events and stuff like that and then of course we would be all for it,” Kober-McCubbing said.

She said not being able to play for a year would be highly detrimental for the league.

“When he (Councillor Kim Robinson) asked where we would play there are no diamonds for us to play on. The ladies (fastball) and minor girls are snatching up everything there is. I guess he presented Hamilton Flats would we play there for a year but meeee I don’t know.”

“We may take the year off then,” she said.

The front entryway of Memorial Field - MJ Independent photo

Taking a year off to allow Option Two’s more extensive renovations would likely kill the League. Especially after the hit from the COVID 19 pandemic.

“Well there are a lot of us on the verge of retirement. It would have a big impact. I am going to tell you why because before COVID we had 10 ladies teams and more faithfully. Since COVID we’re sitting at about six teams,” Kober-McCubbing said.

“We always sat at 10 or 11 teams. I’ve played ball since I was 16 and since COVID we’re sitting at six or seven teams. Yeah we lost four or five teams from COVID. Shutting down again would kill us.”

Mayor’s Post Meeting Response

Mayor Clive Tolley - who played fastball for 25 years at Memorial Field - said he was happy with Executive Committee’s decision.

Mayor Tolley - who played fastball in the same league with his brother Lindsay who holds the season record of 15 home runs - said he liked keeping Memorial Field’s tradition alive.

“I think it was built in 1946 by the veterans as a memorial to the veterans and I don’t think we should change that,” he said. “It’s a very unique and iconic park and we’ve been able to hold a lot of important events there…without having to change the dimensions.”

The Mayor said he does not favour of any expansion and that “the ladies from slo-pitch just want to leave it the way it is. They don’t want to miss a season.”

He said the two remaining men’s fastpitch teams remaining of a once high 12 local teams also would not like to miss a season either.

Mayor Clive Tolley asks a question of Administration what the user group’s had indicated they wanted - MJ Independent photo

“That’s one of the problems. It’s the same with the senior men’s fastball. If you lose a year you lose momentum and once something is done it’s done,” Mayor Tolley said.

Although Councillor Robinson favoured Option Two and two other councillors - Councillor Jamie Logan and Councillor Doug Blanc - said they initially favoured Option Two Mayor Tolley said the $44,000 in the additional costs between the two options discussed just didn’t add up.

He said the $44,000 was significant because its money that could be used for the myriad of facilities and infrastructure requiring repair.

“I think it’s a good idea just keep going the way it is and do the recommendations that are in Option One,” he said.