City, Southeast break ground on Capaha Field upgrades

Officials with the city of Cape Girardeau and Southeast Missouri State University broke ground Wednesday on a project that will make major improvements to Capaha Field.

Planned renovations include replacing the natural-grass outfield and dirt infield with synthetic turf, installing a larger scoreboard that will have a video screen, and building a new wooden outfield fence.

Brockmiller Construction of Farmington, Missouri, is the contractor on the project.

Work is scheduled to begin Sept. 1 and be finished by the end of the year, according to Carolyn Figliolo, associate director of design and construction for Southeast’s facilities-management department. The university is overseeing the project.

The city and the university agreed to split the cost for the budgeted $1.8 million in ballpark improvements.

A groundbreaking ceremony for improvements to Capaha Field was held Wednesday with, from left, Rowdy Redhawk, Joseph Uzoaru, Robbie Guard, Jess Bolen, Brady Barke, Carlos Vargas-Aburto, Mayor Harry Rediger, Andy Sawyers, Justin Lieser, John Yallaly, Bob Fox and Playmo.Fred Lynch

The city’s share will come from casino revenue.

Several teams use the baseball field at Capaha Park, including the university and the community’s Burger King Capahas amateur baseball team.

Mayor Harry Rediger and university president Carlos Vargas-Aburto celebrated the project and the partnership during the groundbreaking.

“We have invested together in great partnerships in the past, and this is going to be a real highlight as we improve and make a state-of-the-art field,” Rediger said.

The mayor said the renovations will result in lower maintenance costs and fewer rainouts. It also will aid in recruitment of baseball players.

Southeast Missouri State University coach Andy Sawyers speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday for a $1.8 million renovation project at Capaha Field.Fred Lynch

Rediger added, “Most importantly, it is going to serve the youth of our community.”

Vargas told the crowd of about 60 people, including members of the Redhawks baseball team, he shares “in the excitement of another great partnership.”

“Southeast and this community have shared an outstanding town-and-gown relationship for the past 143 years,” Vargas said. “Our relationship is the envy of many college and university towns throughout the country.”

Vargas, who has served as the school’s president for just over a year, said Southeast and the city have partnered on a number of major projects over the decades, including construction of the Show Me Center and the River Campus.

Capaha Field has served as the university’s baseball field since the program’s inception in 1959.

In the last decade, more than 124,000 fans have watched Southeast baseball at Capaha Field, Vargas said.

Southeast has played 264 baseball games at Capaha Field during that time, winning 166, Vargas said.

During this past season, more than 21,000 fans attended Redhawks’ home games.

Southeast has had the highest home attendance for baseball games in the Ohio Valley Conference in three of the last seven years.

Jess Bolen, who managed the Capahas for the past 50 years, said he is looking forward to seeing the renovated field.

He said the improvements will make it “a showcase field.”

He added, “It is just going to be remarkable.”

Redhawks baseball coach Andy Sawyers said, “One of the things that ties our community together is the passion for baseball. I can’t think of a more exciting time to be here in Cape Girardeau.”

After the ceremony, Rediger said he and Vargas agreed on the project during a meeting the two had last year.

Rediger said the city, which owns the field, was looking at how to improve field drainage. That issue prompted a discussion of doing a more substantial project, he said.

The mayor said he had a number of private meetings with Vargas over the course of the past year. Vargas began his duties as president in July 2015.

After the ceremony, some of those attending dug up small pieces of the grass field to take home as souvenirs. Cape Girardeau parks and recreation Julia Thompson encouraged the souvenir-taking,

Southeast also plans to build an indoor hitting facility adjacent to Capaha Field. It would include storage space and a clubhouse/locker room for the team.

mbliss@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

Capaha Park, Cape Girardeau, Mo.