Prep baseball: CdM’s field of dreams

Barry Faulkner

CORONA DEL MAR - If you announce plans to build it, the money will

come.

That’s the philosophy of the Corona del Mar High baseball program,

which has declared it hopes to construct a state-of-the-art stadium,

seating several hundred fans and housing locker rooms, offices and

workout facilities, as soon as next spring. The new facility would be

built around the existing varsity diamond, using available room,

including a portion of a parking lot directly behind the third-base

dugout.

“It has been a dream of mine ever since I came to CdM,” said Coach

John Emme, who has guided the Sea Kings to the CIF Southern Section

playoffs each of his four seasons, including a Division IV title in 1999.

“And, now, we’ve actually got some (boosters) willing to aggressively go

after it.”

What the program is going after are contributions, which are expected

to foot the entire bill. That bill, after projected donations of labor

and materials, could be as low as $300,000, Emme said.

“The total cost could vary greatly, depending on what kind of labor

people are willing to donate,” said Emme, who claims the project could be

completed in time for the 2002 season.

“Any time you have a dream, you’re going to have high expectations,”

Emme said. “We think getting this done within a year is a real

possibility. We’re determined.”

CdM parent David Sprowl is spearheading a group of project organizers,

who will be actively soliciting donations.

A stadium brochure titled “Blueprint for the Future” outlines a

donor-recognition plan, ranging from stadium naming rights ($25,000) to

an inscribed plate on a stadium seat ($500).

Donor plaques located within the stadium are also being sold. Those

packages include Platinum ($5,000 or more), Gold ($2,500 or more), Silver

($1,500 or more) and Bronze ($1,000 or more).

The brochure states that the venue could also be used for community

events, but Emme believes it will have its biggest impact on his baseball

program.

“We want it to be immersed in CdM baseball,” Emme said. “We want to

create a Walk of Fame with names of prominent former players. I want to

create a program with a past, present and future.”

Under the elevated seats, which diagrams project will span from third

base to first base, plans include the creation of a Sea King team room,

with lockers and showers, the aforementioned Walk of Fame, recognizing

players and teams which earned distinction as Sea Kings, and a weight

room and conditioning center. Office space, restrooms and a concession

area, as well as an area which could house a batting cage, are also

outlined.

“It will have everything I could dream of,” said Emme, who also

believes centralizing the baseball facilities will free up resources for

the freshman and junior varsity teams, as well as other CdM athletic

programs.

Emme said the fund-raising effort will begin with the team’s June 6

banquet.

“This began with baby steps, but now we’re really moving,” Emme said.

“With as much as the committee has done, especially Dave Sprowl, nothing

would surprise me.”