Liverpool Girls Softball League |
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This
is a very simple game: You throw the ball. You catch the ball. You hit the ball. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. Sometimes it rains. from Bull Durham |
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| As recent past president of Liverpool Girls Softball League, I
want to share a brief personal perspective on LGSL's recent history, especially our Field
of Our Own project. As this page evolves, I welcome your suggestions and
questions. You'll find a link at the end of this page to the LGSL home page maintained by
Glenn Langdon. My story begins with a few reminiscences about the 10 years my daughter (in fact, our entire family) and I were involved in LGSL. My daughter registered for LGSL's instructional division as a third grader in 1990. She happened to play (and I helped coach) on a team managed by Gary Quackenbush, who was LGSL's instructional division coordinator. In 1990, LGSL had a total of 13 teams and approximately 180 players in its Instructional (grades 3 - 5), Junior (grades 6 - 8) and Senior (grades 9 - 12) divisions. The following year, Gary and his daughter moved up to the Junior division and I became manager of his Instructional division team and also assumed his duties as Instructional division coordinator. As a new member of the LGSL board of directors and officers, I was impressed by my discoveries at my first LGSL board meetings. The board was comprised of a small group of capable and modest people who were dedicated to LGSL. John Fietze, Bob Asanoma, John Tromans and others who were part of the board in the early 90s inspired my commitment to LGSL and my drive to spread the word about this remarkable community organization. As president of LGSL from 1993 - 1997, I had the opportunity to expand our board and the privilege to work with men and women who enthusiastically committed their time and abundant talent to LGSL. I'm proud of the several new efforts our board successfully established, including a league-wide opening day celebration, an expanded instructional division for kids in grades K - 2, a new and consistent graphic identity for uniforms and league materials, an annual coaches orientation program, a Web page, and, of course, our Field of Our Own project. One sign of LGSL's success is its growth: in 1999 LGSL registered over 450 players on 35 teams. At the risk of leaving out names of people who also have made significant contributions to this growth, my story is incomplete without saying I'm grateful for the contributions and commitment of current and past board members, Donna Anderson, Dave Anthony, Don Adamczyk, Eddie Dunn, Jim Finnerty, Glenn Langdon, Pat Lawler, Debbie Murphy, Mike Murphy, Tom Pavente, and Robin Young.
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| By far
LGSL's most ambitious initiative is our effort to make improvements to the Town of
Salina's Electronics Park resulting in a four field complex. We were inspired by the
title of the movie, A League of Our Own, and named our effort, A
Field of Our Own. A Field of Our Own was an approximately
$250,000 project for which we received $115,000 in legislative member item
grants. We realized the remaining amount through some league funds but largely through
volunteer and donated labor, materials, and equipment. Now, in addition to using School District fields, LGSL will have a home field complex that provides a sense of community and will generate revenue to support increasing costs of insurance, umpires, and equipment. |
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 This
photo of the two original fields at Electronics Park was taken at 6:00 AM, Sunday,
September 22, 1996. LGSL had used the two Electronics Parks fields, mostly for
the senior division, for many years. At 7:30 AM, a small group of parents and several Air
National Guardsman arrived with heavy equipment. Our field development was finally
underway.I say "finally" because our planning actually began several years before. After much discussion and preparation, we formally announced our Field of Our Own initiative at Opening Day, Sunday, May 7, 1995. We began formal discussion with Town of Salina officials and with Assemblyman Michael Bragman soon afterward. |
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 Our
project involved replacing two existing fields with four new and improved fields. These
four fields will be used by all of LGSL's teams. Thanks to the continued support of
Assemblyman Bragman and the Town of Salina, a third project phase which will result in a
concession stand/storage began in the Fall of 1999. |
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 (L-R) Don
Adamczyk, Vice President and coach--Don has done all of the drafting work for our
project, John Fietze, Dave Anthony, LGSL secretary, a
colleague of Darryl's, and Bob Asanoma. Bob had recently retired as an
engineer with the NYS Department of Transportation when we began our field work. Bob's
daughter's had graduated from LGSL three year's ago--but he still chipped in, sometimes
putting in 8 - 10 hour days. Bob now spends most of his time as executive director of the
Audubon Society. We couldn't have done this without you, Bob--THANKS. |
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 To
successfully complete a project like this, many people have to cooperate and, on occasion,
work above and beyond the call of duty. John Fietze did just that.
John stayed on the board as past president and made a commitment to help us with our field
project. So even though John's and Brenda's kids had graduated from LGSL and Liverpool
High School (Daughter no. 1 is a dentist, daughter no. 2 an engineer, and daughter no.3 is
a senior in college), he did all of our engineering design work and put in countless hours
at the fields. John's contributions have been truly EXTRAordinary! [John, second from
left, is picture here with Bob Asanoma far left, and Darryl Neilsen, far right.] |
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 When you
see the fields, you won't see much of the work and materials that were either done in
preparation or are buried underground. For example, our project included the removal of
over an acre of trees and brush. People like John Leathley and others helped us to
"borrow" equipment at key times. And fortunately for LGSL, League parents Darryl
Neilson, Kevin Kilpeck, Bill Asmus, and Bill Schilly were skilled in engineering
and construction and extremely generous with their time. John Fietze and I continue to
consult and assist in LGSL's Field of Our Own efforts. |
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 In
addition to four fields, backstops, and benches, our project included the construction of
a parking lot for use by LGSL and Town residents using the Electronics Park facilities. The Field of Our Own project would not have been possible without the support and involvement of the Town of Salina: Kathy Rapp (Town of Salina Councilperson and parent of an LGSL player), Jim Wemesfelder (Parks Director), Jim Whitehead (Highway Superintendent) and Mary Ann Schadt (Town Supervisor, and grandmother of an LGSL player). |
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 Liverpool
School District Superintendent, John Cataldo, has spoken at every LGSL
Opening Day since we began them in 1994. The LGSL / Liverpool Schools relationship is an
important and proud part of LGSL tradition. We in LGSL are interested in and proud of all of our players. We recognize and celebrate their athletic, artistic, and academic talents. LGSL graduates like Liz Reed (LHS softball and basketball), University of Chicago; Kathy Marsella (LHS basketball and crew), Princeton; Tori Brown (LHS field hockey), SUNY Cortland; and Maggie Pachura (LHS track and cross country), SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry are a few examples who come to mind. |
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 NYS
Senator, John DeFrancisco, presented LGSL with a NYS Senate Resolution
honoring LGSL on its 25th Anniversary at Opening Day 1997. Senator De Franciso also
obtained a grant that provided partial support for the first phase of A Field of Our
Own. |
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 NYS
Assembly Majority Leader, Michael Bragman, made a commitment to LGSL at
Opening Day 1995. Assemblyman Bragman's ongoing commitment and involvement help LGSL
to continue to make improvements to Electronics Park and to serve increasing numbers of
families.
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 Assemblyman Bragman and
members of LGSL at Electronics Park--LGSL's home field complex. |
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 This photo
features LGSL's first Kindergarten class. At Opening Day 1997, I had the privilege to
introduce these kindergartners as the Liverpool High School and LGSL graduating
class of 2009!LGSL's popularity is understandable because LGSL plays an up-tempo hitter's game with plenty of action for everyone. In all divisions players bat through the lineup so no one is ever out of the game. The many LGSL players who go on to play on the Liverpool High School softball team and other varsity teams is another sign of success and reflects LGSL's commitment to teaching teamwork and leadership skills as they apply to all pursuits. |
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 Assemblyman
Bragman joined us for Opening Day 1999. Fellow board member, Mike Murphy, received
LGSL's Distinuighsed Service Award. I was honored with the opportunity to dedicate
LGSL's new four-field complex. After that, Mr. Bragman presented LGSL with an Assembly
Resolution commemorating LGSL's Field of Our Own field dedication. |
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 The formal
"ribbon cutting" ceremony,Opening Day 1999. |
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 Stop by
LGSL's home field complex at Electronics Park. Better yet, get a glove on
and get in the game! Registration for the 2000 season will be announced
soon in schools and in the Liverpool Review. |
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Just remember, in the winter, |
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 Think Spring - Think LGSL | LGSL Home Page | |
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Home | Bio | Courses & Workshops | Contact me Chuck Spuches |
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I look forward to the exciting things that LGSL's new
president, Dr. Mike Romano (photo at left), Vice president, Don Adamczyk,
and other veteran and new board members will contribute to LGSL. Their challenge is to
stay close to the principles and traditions that have made LGSL a uniquely valuable and
successful community resource as they help LGSL to continue to grow and mature.