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Local Entities Collaborate To Give Paul A. Weaver Park Softball Field A Facelift (10/16/19)

(Photos submitted) Above: Recently updated softball field at Weaver Park.

(By Rob Rinker Clarion Little League President and Clarion Area Softball Coach Dan Shofestall)

Rob Rinker: Visitors to Weaver Park will notice a new infield at the softball field. The field, used by both the Clarion Area High School softball team and the Clarion Little League softball division, recently underwent a facelift.

Weathering and water runoff had taken its toll on the dirt infield.

A collaborative effort to enhance the softball field quickly developed between those involved in the local softball community. Clarion Little League submitted a matching grant application and was awarded a grant in the amount of $10,000 for the field improvement project. Local in-kind funding for the project was provided by the Clarion Area School – Softball Boosters, Clarion Borough, Clarion Little League, and an anonymous corporate donor.

Work performed on the infield included grading for drainage; grass lip removal; new infield dirt; a new pitchers area, designed for both high school and little league softball pitching; a new home plate; and new bases and anchors.

Athletic Field Pros (a Division of S&S Processing), a company which specializes in constructing and repairing playing surfaces, conducted the field work on October 2nd.

Athletic Field Pros grading the infield via laser transit guidance.

I would like to thank the Clarion Area Softball Program for their partnership and especially Dan Shofestall, and Matt and Melanie Best for collaborating with Clarion Little League to bring this field enhancement opportunity to the softball youth community.

(Clarion Lady Cats Softball Coach Dan Shofestall)

I would like to say a few good things about S&S Processing/Athletic Field Pros. They are from the New Castle area, just off Route 376. They have been doing field renovations for years and have done work at the Steelers’ field at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, on the Southside and worked for the Pirates.

S&S Processing/Athletic Field Pros have renovated hundreds of fields over the years and are quite good at what they do. I had the privilege of watching their crew renovate the softball field at Weaver Park on October 2nd. They were very helpful at answering my questions on how the Little League and I could best maintain the field in the years to come.

I was impressed with their professionalism and kindness to all who were present and asked questions. They really are experts at field maintenance and renovations and I would recommend them to anybody who is interested in getting their field renovated.

Athletic Field Pros applying Fielder’s Choice Pro Red infield mix.

The softball field has had some weather related issues, over the past years and we feel the work that S&S Processing did will greatly help everyone involved in maintaining the field. They were fast and efficient. They worked very well together as a team and were able to renovate the field in one day, finishing by 7:00 in the evening.

Outstanding work for sure.

(Thanks to Rob Rinker and Dan Shofestall for this article and photos. This is great news for local youth softball!!!!)