American Legion Senior District Baseball Tournament

By Kyle Stevens
Cedar County News
HARTINGTON — The community of Hartington is rolling out the red carpet this week for the American Legion Senior District Baseball Tournament.
The Felber Park Baseball Complex has undergone a major facelift in preparation for this event.
The combined efforts of the Hartington Baseball-Softball Association, Park Board, city of Hartington, and head groundskeeper Gene Haberer and many volunteers have ensured  the Senior American Legion District Tournament here will be a success.
Designs on hosting districts began long before Hartington received the bid in January as a grass infield was planted last September.
Haberer, who has been involved with Hartington baseball since 1989, said a grass infield was always something that needed to be done here, but was never a possibility since the field was used for both baseball and football up until the construction of the Hartington Community Complex.

“I always wanted to fix the field up,” said Haberer, “No football gave us the opportunity to put in a grass infield.”
The grass infield was just the begining as several baseball enthusiasts along with members of various groups went to work to overhaul the entire complex.
Renovations to the grounds include painting the restroom facilities, and the removal of several trees to make the restrooms more accessible and to increase seating along the third base line.  
There were also many additions made to the field itself.  

A fence line was installed down the right field line to enclose the entire field.  A lighted flag pole replaced the old football press box in center field.  The backstop was also redone along with the addition of bullpens and baskets on both foul poles.

A field conditioner was applied to the playing surface in April that will allow the infield dirt to hold 10 times its weight in water.
“The field conditioner is the key to the field,” said Haberer, “It will prevent a lot of troubles with rain outs.”
Haberer said credit should be given to many people for making the field renovation possible.  
“There are a lot of people who deserve a lot of  thanks,”  said Haberer, “Without the help of many this project would not have been possible.”
With the new look Felber Baseball Field done in time for districts, Haberer, along with the Baseball Association, and other city officials are looking to the future.
According to Haberer, the group hopes to be able to add more seating in the future along the third base line. Replacing the concession stands and adding a new backstop with a net are also being discussed.
Haberer hopes all the changes made to the field will only help to promote the game of baseball further in the town of Hartington.
“Now that we have all of this our hope is that baseball will catch on even more in the area.” said Haberer.
Baseball-Softball Association President Don Hagge said hosting districts is only the tip of the iceberg for Hartington.
“Having Districts in town will help the community,”  said Hagge, “Our next hope is to put in a bid to host state in the near future.”

The local baseball and softball booster organization has neglected Hartington’s other fields in concentrating on Felber Park. Two new fields at the Hartington Community Complex are up and running this year after extensive preparation last Fall and early this Spring.

Fencing and backstops were installed at the fields. The fences were also all capped with PVC pipe to make them safer and more attractive. 

The Park Board plans to add more trees, playground equipment, dugouts and a concession area between the two fields in the future. Projects like this can only be done with the support of community groups such as the Baseball-Softball Association, though, said Park Board member Peggy Year.
“When everybody works together for a common cause good things can happen,” Year said.

The groups would also like to see facility improvements for the girls’ softball field, as well. It is hoped Hartington will be able to bid on a District softball tournament in the near future, as well.

With the Felber Park Field being ready to go for the big week of baseball that lies ahead, Haberer hopes to see a good crowd come out to check out the games.
“The Districts will be fun,” Haberer said, “I hope people get out to watch and enjoy the ball park.”