Arizona Diamondbacks Unveil 4-field Diamondbacks Youth Complex at Reach 11 Sports Complex in Northeast Phoenix

09/17/2007, PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks unveiled the Diamondbacks Youth Complex today and dedicated Brandon Webb Field, Chad Tracy Field, Rich Dozer Field and the Partners Field at the Reach 11 Sports Complex in Northeast Phoenix. This four-field complex includes two adaptive fields for youth with disabilities, making the complex the first of its kind in Arizona.

"We have been working on making this complex a reality for over two years now, and it is very exciting that it's coming to fruition," said D-backs President Derrick Hall. "The opportunity for kids who experience a disability and those who do not, to play the game of baseball together, is priceless. This is definitely one of our proudest moments in team history."

The two regulation-sized Little League fields are named after D-backs players Brandon Webb and Chad Tracy. Each player donated funds to complete the project. The two adaptive fields are smaller in size than a regulation Little League field and the playing surface is made of TotTurf, which is a rubber material that is conducive to wheelchair and walker use. These fields are named Rich Dozer Field (after former D-backs President Rich Dozer) and Partners Field (after the D-backs General Partnership ownership group) and are only the second and third disabled youth fields with the TotTurf surface in Arizona.

Participating on the adaptive fields will be the Diamondbacks Reach League, which was developed by the D-backs' "K for Kids" program that included more than $15,000 raised by strikeouts accumulated by the D-backs' starting pitchers in 2006. The City of Phoenix Adaptive Services Program will run the Reach League starting Oct. 13. Other organizations that have already expressed interest about using the field for their disabled youth programs include: Special Olympics, Mesa Association of Sports for the Disabled, City of Chandler Therapeutic Recreation, City of Peoria Adaptive Recreation, Deer Valley School District Adaptive Physical Education, Life Challenge and the Valley of the Sun School and Habilitation Center. The Challenger Division of Little League Baseball, which enables boys and girls with physical and mental disabilities to play baseball, will also use the adaptive fields.

The regulation Little League baseball fields will be utilized by Arizona District 3 Little League, which consists of 14 Little Leagues programs.

The Diamondbacks Youth Complex cost $3 million and was funded through the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation as well as funds raised by the team from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, Baseball Tomorrow Fund, Thunderbirds Charities, APS, Summit Builders, the D-backs General Partnership ownership group and Tracy and Webb. The land is owned by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Members of the construction team to build the complex include Nelsen Partners, Kearney Electric, Inc., Erickson & Meeks Engineering, Peterson Consulting Engineers, Stabilizer Solutions, E Group, Inc., West Coast Turf, Musco Lighting, Five G, Inc., Survey Innovation Group, Arizona Bag Company, Danco Specialties, TotTurf, Kaye Contracting, Hardrock Concrete, D & O Contractors, Fluoresco Lighting & Signs, Triple M Masonry, Inc., Killer Shades, Qwest, Progressive Roofing, Desierto Verde, PK Associates, Norman S. Wright Co., Silverline Sports Products, Ewing, Mesa Precast, Buena Vista Plumbing, Verbraken & Sons Painting, Kesler Manufacturing, LJR Metals, LLC, USA Fire Protection, LLC, Kelley Bros. of Arizona, Speedie & Associates, Moyers Stripping & Signage, Beach Products, Cookson Door Sales of AZ, and Spectrum Mechanical.

The Diamondbacks Youth Complex is part of the "Diamonds Back" Field Building Program, which has built or refurbished 26 baseball fields since 2000. The fields are built through the aid of corporate partner APS, local businesses, funds from the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, and monetary donations from individual players and owners.

Brandon Webb Field, Chad Tracy Field, Rich Dozer Field and the Partners Field join the following:

• 2006 dedications:
Mark Grace Thunderbolt Field (Luke Air Force Base)
Matt Williams Family Field (Show Low)
Craig Counsell Field (Buckeye)

• 2005 dedications:
Luis Gonzalez Field (Tempe)
Shawn Green Field (Peoria)
Troy Glaus Field (Casa Grande)

• 2004 dedications:
Danny Bautista Field (Phoenix)
Shea Hillenbrand Field (Chandler)
Elmer Dessens Field (Tucson)

• 2003 dedications:
Matt Mantei Field (Tempe)
Mark Grace Field (Flagstaff)
Miguel Batista Field (Sacaton)
Jerry Colangelo Field (South Phoenix)

• 2002 dedications:
Todd Stottlemyre Field (Guadalupe)
Armando Reynoso Field (Yuma)
Brian Anderson Field (Glendale)
Steve Finley Field (Phoenix)
Curt Schilling Field (Phoenix)

• 2001 dedications:
Randy Johnson Field (Phoenix)
O'Callaghan Field (Phoenix)

• 2000 dedications:
Jay Bell Field (Phoenix)
Matt Williams Field (Phoenix)

Source: MLB

Bookmark/Search this post with:

 •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •