Breaking in Bonita

Bryce Alderton

After nearly four years of setbacks and failed promises, the dawn of

a new era for the Newport Harbor Baseball Association became reality

at its opening day Saturday.

Ideal conditions made for a stellar day with Bronco (11- and

12-year-olds) and Mustang (9- and 10-year-olds) teams christening the

new fields at the Bonita Canyon Sports Park in Newport Beach.

Years of playing on often less-than-respectable surfaces gave way

to a renewed enthusiasm, described by the rave reviews coaches and

organizers gave the fields.

“Fabulous,” Bronco Giants’ Manager Steve Harris said about the new

fields. “We are not accustomed to such amenities. It’s nice to see

people come out here and have a good time.”

The Giants defeated the Cubs, 14-5, in the first game on the new

grounds.

The Giants scored 10 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to

take a 10-3 lead, capped by Alex Maddox’s grand slam, the park’s

first home run.

Jason Harris struck out three in five innings, allowing one

unearned run for the Giants.

The Cubs’ Ryan Albert allowed one run through the first three

innings and pitched well, Harris said.

Fifteen NHBA games were played Saturday, stretching from fields at

Bonita and Ensign Intermediate School to Mariners Park and Kaiser

School.

Mark Meisenheimer, NHBA opening day chairman, praised volunteers

who smoothed infield dirt, painted lines and made other necessary

preparations to ready facilities for play.

“Stunning, gorgeous,” Meiseheimer, a Mustang Division coach, said

of the new fields.

NHBA players have been used to playing on fields that have

all-dirt infields and pitchers’ mounds that can resemble deep pits

near the rubber from overuse. Needless to say, the fields at Bonita

provide a substantial upgrade.

The first day of baseball at Bonita has been eagerly anticipated

since the idea for the park surfaced in 1998.

The park was supposed to open in April 2001, but it wasn’t until

last August that grand opening ceremonies were held and AYSO soccer

teams soon started playing on the grass. A series of missteps

included the park’s first contractor becoming financially unstable

and eventually declaring bankruptcy, along with a sprinkler system

malfunctioning in February 2003.

But now four baseball fields dot the 33.5-acre park, which also

features three soccer fields, two playgrounds, two tennis courts, one

basketball court and three restroom buildings.

Bonita’s baseball fields will be used by both NHBA, Pony baseball

and the Newport Beach Little League.

Double-A teams from NBLL will use the fields, while the

organization’s primary facilities remain at Lincoln Elementary

School.

NBLL first-year commissioner Laura Udkoff said Bonita Park serves

a need not easily filled at other parks.

“There is a sense of community,” she said. “People can walk to the

park and it provides a neighborly feeling. It is phenomenal.”