Lighted Baseball Field Coming To Webster

Webster- State Senator Michael F. Nozzolio (R,C-Fayette) today announced plans to build a lighted baseball field to be home a team in the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL). In anticipation of the team coming to Webster, Senator Nozzolio has secured an initial $100,000 in state funding to build a baseball field that will have the exact internal dimensions of Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. The announcement was made today at a press conference held at Webster Town Hall.

“This important announcement continues our efforts to bring top-notch sporting and recreational opportunities to Webster,” said Senator Nozzolio. “The New York Collegiate Baseball League is one of the premier leagues for college players in the country and the new teamwill provide an excellent opportunity for the community to come out and watch quality baseball. With the construction of the new baseball field, residents will now be able to stand at home plate and play on a field that is exact to the world famous Yankee Stadium.”

In addition to hosting the new team, previously the Rochester Royals, the new baseball diamond will be available for use by youths and adults in the Webster community. The internal dimensions will be exact to Major League Baseball’s Yankee Stadium, one of the most storied stadiums in the world. The field will be 408 feet from home plate to the center field wall, 318 feet down the left field line, and 314 feet down the right field line.

Webster Town Supervisor Ronald Nesbitt said, “This is great news for the Town of Webster and further solidifies our standing as “Sportstown USA”. I am extremely pleased that the Collegiate Baseball League will now have a team in Webster and that our youth and high school players will be able to play baseball under the lights. This new baseball diamond will encourage our community to come out and see a high level of baseball being played.”

In 2004, the Town of Webster was named by Sports Illustrated Magazine as the best Sportstown in all of New York State. Throughout his tenure as a State legislator, Senator Nozzolio has been an ardent supporter of Webster’s sports programs. In addition to today’s announcement, Senator Nozzolio has secured nearly $2 million in State grants for the Webster Soccer Complex, Webster Community Sports Complex, Webster’s baseball and softball programs, a state-of-the-art pool and aquatic program, and the Webster Youth Athletic Scholarship Program.

David Eckler, President of the Webster Athletic Association, said, “This is terrific news for our young athletes. The arrival ofcollegiate baseballto the Empire Baseball Park will provide an opportunity for top college baseball players to mentor and play an integral role in shaping the lives of our little league baseball players.”

Mark Perlosaid “The team is thrilled to be playing in Webster, a town that has a long tradition of actively supporting their sports teams. We are honored to be a part of the Webster community and am excited that we will be able to provide a quality team that people can come out to watch play.”

The New York Collegiate Baseball League, founded in 1978, is a summer wood bat league sanctioned by the NCAA and partially funded by Major League Baseball. The league has 15 teams located in upstate New York and gives college players who have not yet signed a professional contract the opportunity to develop their skills at a higher level of play, gain experience with wood bats, and be evaluated by scouts. Teams play a 44 game regular season schedule with games beginning in June and ending in the last week in July. Additional information on the NY Collegiate Baseball League can be found on the website, www.nycbl.com.

“It has been an honor to represent the people of Webster and I am extremely pleased that we have been so successful in bringing many athletic opportunities to Webster for our youth and the entire community,” concluded Senator Nozzolio.

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