Brand new digs

Mike Sciacca

As the final outs of two ballgames on the Minor B and T-Ball fields

were recorded Friday, it marked the end of an era at Ocean View

Little League.

For nearly 40 years, from spring into summer, youngsters played

their games at the league’s six fields, which could be seen right off

Warner Avenue, east of Beach Boulevard and west of Newland Street.

But those fields of dreams came to a close last week as the league

has moved to a new home.

Beginning Saturday , all Ocean View Little League games will be

played at nearby Murdy Park.

The old home will begin to be torn down on Monday when

construction begins on development of a new Lowe’s home improvement

center.

The move has been in the works for the past six years, said Cathy

Van Doornum, president of Ocean View Little League.

The Ocean View School District owns the property where the

league’s playing fields had been and has leased the site to Lowe’s.

“This move was going to happen and both the city and school

district have been great in helping us with the transition,” Van

Doornum said. “They’ve put a lot of money into this move.

“While it was sad to close down the snack shack for the final time

last Friday, it’s going to be an exciting start at the new fields.”

Van Doornum said that the city paid to build a new restroom and

parking lot at Murdy Park.

The school district, she said, did all of the work on the playing

fields, from grading to irrigation.

A snack shack is already in place and will be in working order

Saturday, but work electrical and plumbing work will continue.

The renovation project -- part of the league’s responsibilities

for the new playing fields site is volunteer work -- is not yet

complete.

Bleachers have not yet been erected but will be “soon”, Van

Doornum said, and work on the pitchers’ mounds was to continue

throughout the week.

The playing fields have been built from near scratch, as backstops

were the only physical element on any field.

“We’re working out the bugs, but we’re ready to go,” she said.

“The essentials are in place.”

The change in home fields came during midseason, but did not

affect play, as teams have been off due to the spring break.

“I will miss the old field, but I think the new fields are going

to be terrific by the time we finish the current season,” said Mike

Hammock, a first-year manager who heads the A’s of the Minor B

Division. “It will be great to be at a community park. The new site

will be better for the families who visit and give the younger

siblings a place nearby to play.

Murdy Park will boast five playing fields for games in the Majors,

Minor A, Minor B, Farm and T-Ball divisions.

“If it is done well, the league will be stronger,” Hammock said.

“The kids will adapt quickly. They just want to play baseball, so

they will be happy playing at the new fields. It will be difficult in

the short term, but the Little League board is committed and capable

of doing a good job.

“I appreciate how the city has worked hard to get the fields ready

for use. We do not take it for granted. The league is great for the

local community as well, and Murdy Park will be enjoyed by more

people in the community, so this will have a positive impact on the

league and the city.”

When Richard Penjoyan died in the late 1990s, the Penjoyan family

donated a substantial amount of money to the league, in his honor,

said Phil Guite, who served as league treasurer at the time of the

donation.

The Majors Division field was fondly named, “Mr. P’s Field.”

Guite now is a third base coach with the Cubs of the Majors

Division.

His youngest son, Sean, plays for the Cubs.

“We used the money for the current scoreboard and other

improvement at the fields,” Guite said. “The scoreboard bears his

name.

“I’m not thrilled with the move, mostly because this is our

family’s 10th, and final, year at Ocean View Little League. I would

much prefer that my youngest son, Sean, be able to complete his final

year of Little League at these fields without the disruption and

chaos of a mid-season move. I believe that all the kids who have ever

played here and their parents will miss the old fields. They have a

character to them that the new facility won’t have.”

Ocean View teams will play 28 games Saturday at Murdy Park.

The league’s official dedication will take place May 15 with a

ribbon cutting ceremony, Van Doornum said.

“I know it’s hard for some to leave the old fields, but once we

start playing at Murdy Park, it will begin to feel like home.” she

said. “It might take some time, but the league will get there.”