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*Story From The Hudson Litchfield News January 9, 2009*
There may be snow on the ground, but baseball season is just a few months away and the players of Hudson Youth Baseball (HYB) will be using a brand new pitching bullpen at Lion’s Field on Water Street this spring thanks to Ryan Teague, a Life Scout in Troop 252 at St. Kathryn’s Church in Hudson. Ryan, 15, organized the construction of the bullpen over the past several months for his Eagle Project.
The bullpen will provide a safe place for pitchers to warm up prior to entering the game while protecting fans from being hit with errant throws as the pitchers warm up. Pitchers and catchers previously had to warm up either behind the backstop, where there wasn’t the required distance to adequately pitch, or along the bleachers which led to a potentially unsafe situation for both the players warming up and for those watching the game. The players warming up next to the bleachers were exposed to foul balls and the fans were subjected to the occasional stray throw.
Ryan’s Eagle Project took over six months and more than 2,000 man-hours to complete. Ryan presented his idea to members of HYB, the Hudson Lion’s Club (property owners of the field), and the local Boy Scout District Eagle Project Review Board for approval last spring. He then planned the project, raised the necessary funding, and organized the labor required to build the bullpen. Construction began in early summer with the clearing of land beyond the outfield fence and the installation of two pitching mounds, pitching plates, and home plates. The bullpen was then enclosed within a six-foot high chain link fence and was ready for use in late June, in time for the Cal Ripken U12 District Playoffs. The overall project was completed this fall with the addition of a picnic area and a stone pathway leading to the new bullpen. Although the labor was done, Ryan then had to present a final report of his project to Hudson Youth Baseball, the Kiwanis Club, and the Lion’s Club. He provided his report at the HYB Annual Meeting on October 29th, to the Kiwanis Club the first week of November, and is scheduled to present to the Lion’s Club at their annual meeting on February 9th.
Many volunteers from the troop, HYB, and the community helped Ryan in completing this project. They helped to remove brush, take down trees, prepare the ground, and install the pitching mounds. Over 50 tons of earth materials including crushed stone base, ¾” stone, and baseball infield mix, were required. BROX industries, a long-time HYB sponsor, provided a generous discount on the earth materials, and Hudson resident Mike Babin donated the trucking services to move the materials from BROX industries to Lion’s Field. Ryan also received a discount on the fencing from the Londonderry Home Depot and strong financial backing from both the Hudson Kiwanis and Lion’s Clubs. John Doyle, Ted Luzsey, and Phil Garside, past president of HYB, provided equipment services to help clear the land and move material. Don Berry, a fellow Scouter and member of HYB, was instrumental with the fence installation.
The purpose of an Eagle Project is for the scout to plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to the scout’s religious institution, school, or community. The project should benefit an organization other than the Boy Scouts of America. Ryan was inspired to work on a baseball-related Eagle Project after helping his friend Matt Emanuelson, a Troop 252 Eagle Scout, build dugouts at the Greeley Street baseball field a few years ago. Ryan liked the idea of combining scouting and baseball, two activities that he has been involved with for several years. Ryan has been in Scouting since 2000 and has played on several Hudson Youth Baseball and travel teams. He played last year for the Alvirne Junior Varsity baseball team and for the AAU U15 Hudson Hawks.
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