Baseball field gets makeover courtesy of Minnesota Twins

With a $10,000 matching grant from the Minnesota Twins, the baseball field at Cook County High School will get the necessary renovations it needs to bring it up to optimal playing conditions.

Cook County High School Head Baseball Coach Arleigh Jorgenson announced last week that the Minnesota Twins Community Fund board of directors had awarded ISD 166 a Twins Field for Kids matching grant of $10,000 for the purpose of upgrading the field.

“This project has been on the back burner since 2007 when a large number of community backers contributed a little over $7,000 specifically for this task,” said Jorgenson. “Finally, these contributions are bearing fruit. With in kind donations of time and labor equaling $3,000, the complete match is in place for completion of a $20,000 project.”

Local contractor Rick Crawford and his crew have already begun work on the field.

“The infield aggregate is being pushed off and loads and loads of fill are being brought in to raise the overall level of the infield, starting with the first base side. Home plate and first base are about a foot lower than the third base side, second base is the high point. Leveling the field should minimize the erosion that has plagued our field several times throughout the years.

“After leveling the infield, a layer of topsoil will be brought in to support infield grass. Finally, protective fencing will be installed in front of each dugout,” said Jorgenson.

“Our CCHS baseball field is the result of hours and hours of volunteer labor over the years, as well as bulldozers, trucks, and fuel contributed by local contractors. There are absolutely too many people to thank for their contributions, but hopefully everyone who has labored to build this field will take great satisfaction to see this most significant upgrade.

“This day would not be happening except for these contributions. We have always known this could be one of the most beautiful baseball fields in the northland, particularly because of the Sawtooth Mountain backdrop.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Minnesota Twins for the encouragement and their generous support, and we hope to make them proud as well,” Jorgenson said.