By Lynn Saternow
Herald Sports Editor
“It will be a great day for the City of Farrell.”
Those were the words of the city’s Deputy Mayor Lou Falconi in referring to opening day this coming Saturday at the newly constructed Little League field near the Farrell City Building.
It marks the return of baseball to the city after many years of play at fields located behind Wheatland Tube in Wheatland. And nobody is prouder of the product than Falconi, a Mercer County Hall of Fame football coach at Farrell who serves as chairman of the Farrell Recreation Commission.
The opening day cermemonies will begin at 11 a.m. and the rec commission is asking that any former Little Leaguer or coach come out to celebrate the new facility, which will also be used for other recreation purposes besides Little League.
“We want to introduce former coaches and people who helped Little League over the years,” said Falconi. “And they may say a few words if they choose.”
Anyone interested in attending is asked to contact Falconi at 724-981-7653 or the city building at 724-983-2703.
The city is also selling personalized bricks that will be laid out at the field. The bricks costs $25 each, which is actually about the cost of putting names of former players or coaches on the bricks.
“It’s a great time for people to pay tribute to a present or former Little Leaguer, coach or team,” said Falconi. “The bricks could also honor special fans or anyone who had an impact on Little League baseball.”
The city is hoping that a return to the downtown will help rejuvenate part of the community and spark a lot of interest.
Thursday night at the 10th anniversary banquet of ERASE — a local organization that battles the use of drugs amongst young people — the impact of the new field was stressed by Mayor Olive Brown-McKeithan and school board member Terrence Harrison.
Giving young people a positive place to spend time and grow is important to curbing crime and drug use, they pointed out.
The new field at the corner of Wallis Avenue and Federal Street is only one block west of the first Little League field built in the city back in 1950.
Everyone is invited to attend the opening ceremonies. “We’re hoping for a big crowd,” said Mayor Brown-McKeithan.
