Baseball, Softball Teams Announce Partnership With Stroudsburg Little League And Stroud Township Board of Supervisors To Seek Support To Enhance Facilities

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) Department of Athletics, the ESU Foundation, the Stroudsburg Little League (SLL) Board of Directors and the Stroud Township Board of Supervisors announced today a new partnership and intentions to raise funds and community support in order to enhance and utilize the ESSA & Hughes Field Complex at Creekview Park, 335 Powerhouse Lane, Stroudsburg. The plan calls for the ESU Foundation, in conjunction with ESU’s Department of Athletics, to raise $1.8M to incorporate the installation of artificial turf (full turf for baseball and outfield turf for softball), two sets of bullpen mounds for both the baseball and softball fields, construction of home and away dugouts at both fields, permanent and accessible bleacher seating for fans, designated hitting cages for each field and overhead netting to protect fans from foul balls. The upgrades are necessary in order to meet regulations for NCAA competitions by ESU’s teams and will be an added bonus to Little League participants and their fans. Both ESU and SLL officials hope to have construction completed by August 2017, in time for ESU’s fall 2017 semester, when the baseball and softball programs will be preparing for the spring 2018 season.

“This is such a great opportunity for Stroudsburg Little League,” said Board of Directors President Jerry Robertson. “I’ve been involved in Stroudsburg Little League for more than 24 years and I have to say we feel very fortunate that our local university wants to partner with us to create a facility that is not only state-of-the-art, but a wellspring of mentorship for the young, influential kids involved in our program. Little League participants will be able to see for themselves that there’s a place for teamwork and comradery throughout their youth and into adulthood.”

“ESU is very excited to be working with Stroud Township and the Stroudsburg Little League on this project that benefits both Little League players and the outstanding student-athletes within our Warrior baseball and softball programs. Athletes of all ages deserve a first-class facility in which to play and through this initiative, we can make that happen,” said ESU President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D. The rise of ESU’s baseball program to national prominence, and new leadership within the softball program, has given the Warriors momentum, but there is a clear need for facilities upgrades due to drainage, dugout, fencing and seating concerns at their existing facilities. The University’s teams have playing on Mitterling Field (baseball) and Zimbar Field (softball) on campus since the early 1960s and 1975, respectively. Prior to their construction, baseball was played in Eiler-Martin Stadium. Costs to develop new facilities for ESU student-athletes and fans would be exorbitant and finding an ideal locale for new baseball and softball fields within ESU’s current footprint is also prohibitive.

According to officials for both ESU and the Stroudsburg Little League, a plan is in place for shared use of the baseball and softball fields that will accommodate both groups. While a formal schedule has not yet been established, estimated field time for ESU teams at the complex will be from late February through early May. This will allow for pre, regular and post season practices and scheduled or rescheduled home games through the end of each ESU team’s respective regular season schedule. Post season tournament access for ESU games in May remain under discussion.

Stroudsburg Little League and Softball practices generally begin in late March or early April (weather permitting). The shared use plan preserves Stroudsburg Little League field access on days and times when ESU teams are away, not conducting formal practices or have concluded home games and/or practices for the day (such as weekends). Weekday field access for ESU and Little League occurs at different times of day, thereby complementing each other. Little League access occurs no sooner than late afternoon when most ESU games or practices conclude. Stroudsburg Little League preserves exclusive access under its long term lease with Stroud Township for the balance of its spring and summer schedule.

ESU and Stroudsburg Little League coaches will work together to expand this partnership during the fall semester to avoid any conflict with Little League baseball and softball “fall ball” programs while ensuring ESU teams have sufficient practice time at the complex.

“The potential of this partnership is just another example of the university’s commitment to creating a best-in-class experience for our student-athletes while strengthening the institution’s bond with the local community,” said Josh Looney, ESU director of athletics. “This project will expand the university’s brand into the local community and immediately raise the level of our teams’ ability to recruit in the increasingly competitive Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and the Atlantic Region of NCAA Division II. But first things first – we need to find ways to raise funds for these enhancements in order to make all of these plans a reality.” Those interested in more information about this philanthropic initiative may contact Richard Santoro, executive director of the ESU Foundation, at rsantoro@esufoundation.org or call (570) 422-3333. For more information about ESU’s baseball and/or softball program, contact Greg Knowlden, ESU sports information director at gknowlden@esu.edu or (570) 422-3312, or for information about the Stroudsburg Little League program, visit http://www.sburgll.com/fields.html.

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