Lack of funds and time will keep Tigers playing away from home

Central baseball and softball have some diamonds in the rough.

They're not big, raw power hitters or hard-throwers in need of seasoning. Instead, these are quite literally diamonds in the rough: Four ballfields that will serve as home to the Tiger baseball and softball teams, although probably not this season.

The Tigers' baseball team will play their home opener today when Chaffee visits Central's old field, located at what is now the Central Junior High School.

The Tigers' future home, located on the campus of the new high school, is still a bit rough.

The outfield needs work, there's no scoreboard, no power, no bleachers, no concession stand and no restrooms.

It's a Mark McGwire clout from its finished state when Central coach Steve Williams envisions a batting cage, trees planted behind the outfield wall for a hitting background and possible warning track and lights.

"It's going be a great field when it's all said and done," Williams said.

Central athletic director Terry Kitchen, taking it one step and one dollar at a time, is of the same mind.

"I think in due time it's going to be an excellent facility out here -- a top-notch high school facility," Kitchen said. "But when you're talking about money that you're trying to raise from the community, it just takes time. I wish somebody would step up and give us $1 million or $2 million, but what's the chances of that happening?"

The complex includes a junior-varsity field adjacent to the varsity field and softball fields for both the varsity and junior-varsity softball teams. The fencing was completed last summer.

"We've got all kinds of plans," Williams said. "We just need to take our time and get them done."

Right now the varsity baseball field is the closest to completion. A grass infield was sodded and is in good shape, but the outfield still needs leveling. With better weather Williams hopes the needed work on the outfield can be finished.

"It'd be nice to at least get one game out there and kind of christen the field," Williams said. "But by the same token, if it just doesn't work out that way then we'll stay off it and have it in great shape for next year.

"The thing we don't want to do is try to rush and get out there and tear it up when it's not ready or play on it if it's not a good surface."

For now, the Tigers are playing the shuttling game that the football team played in the fall. They take a bus and cars to the junior high.

"It takes a little patience on the part of our kids, and they're handling it pretty well," Williams said.

Central's basketball and wrestling teams were able to enjoy new facilities -- two new gymnasiums --this winter, but spring sports have returned Central to the unfinished outdoors.

Track athletes also practice at the junior high while they wait for the completion of the new track. The school needs seven consecutive days onw hich temperatures reach over 70 degrees for the rubberized surface to be laid and set. Kitchen said he thought the work was going to be done last fall, but the company contracted ran behind schedule and cooler weather set in.

While the varsity football team will continue to play games at Houck Stadium at Southeast Missouri State University for several years, the Tigers will practice at their new home next season. Junior varsity and some freshman games will also be played at the new location. Central also plans to move its annual cross country meet on its premises in the fall, instead of at Cape County Park-North.

The softball fields likely will be ready for play in the fall, while the soccer teams will play games at the new location. Efforts are under way by parents to raise money to install lights at the soccer field.

"Again, I've got to raise money for bleachers," Kitchen said. "It may be lawn chairs for a while."

jbreer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 124