Hours of work and devotion pay off with field dedication

By RICHARD HETTINGER
The Kansas City Royals have nothing on our Drexel Bobcats as we too have a new and improved field for baseball play. This all was made possible by the countless volunteer hours of many as they spent months planning and renovating the previous fields into what they are today, safer and fit for both high school baseball and softball play. After many rain delays and postponements the new and improved baseball field was dedicated Monday evening, May 4, 2009.
Five people were designated to throw out the first pitch in dedication of the improved field. Christyne Hellebuyck, School Board President, pitched to Katie Hocker; Harold Seba, who was instrumental in heading up crews, while volunteering many hours on his own in putting up the new fences and preparing the field, pitched to Blake Seba; Steve Mills, one of the main people in getting the fields built years ago, pitched to Jared Jacobs; Joyce Sanders, President of the Booster Club, threw to Jessica Sanders, and Brad Lancaster, Chairman of the Drexel Youth Sporting Association (DYSA), who donated equipment and volunteered time, threw to Alec Young.
PHOTOS: Joyce Sanders prepares to throw a pitch to Jessica Sanders during the dedication ceremony Monday evening.
On Monday evening the Drexel Bobcats and many baseball and softball fans took the short journey to the field complex at the City Lake to witness the dedication of the baseball field. After many volunteer hours spent on planning and executing the renovations and countless rain delays, the ceremony finally got underway. Many pitchers of the 2009 spring teams and dedicators are pictured above: back row, left to right: Brad Lancaster, Joyce Sanders, Steve Mills, Christyne Hellebuyck and Harold Seba. Front row, left to right: Alec Young, Jessica Sanders, Jared Jacobs, Katie Hocker and Blake Seba.