More than 200 people — mostly Little League players in uniforms — watched as South Kitsap Western Little League was awarded $10,000 from Farmers Insurance and 710 ESPN Seattle radio for improvements to the Judy Hacker Van Boeyen Field.
The donation is part of the two organizations’ Improve A Field Project.
Shannon Drayer, who covers the Seattle Mariners for ESPN 710, served as emcee for the check presentation and ground-breaking ceremony.
“I’m excited to be on a field like this,” Drayer said. “To come out here to see the kids and to see the excitement of what’s going on here is a renewal for me.”
In 1984, the field was named for Judy Hacker Van Boeyen, who died Dec. 27, 1980, from cancer at age 39.
Lyle Van Boeyen, Judy’s husband, attended the Aug. 28 presentation, along with several members of Judy’s family from Eastern Washington.
“It’s hard to put into words what the field means to my family,” he said. “This is awesome. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens here. I go by this road a lot and I’ll be checking it out.”
Bob Showers, president of the SK Western Little League, nominated the field for the award.
“We can sure use it and it will go a long way in helping the families and the kids in the SK Western Little League,” Showers said.
Dick Taute, former president of the South Kitsap Western Little League, recommended the field.
“This is awesome,” he said. “I challenge everyone to continue to support all the South Kitsap Little Leagues.”
Mayor Tim Matthes said Port Orchard is “one of the finest communities to live in.”
He noted his son played on the same field with Willie Bloomquist and Jason Ellison, both of whom played in the major leagues.
“He enjoyed playing on this field and I hope with all the improvements the kids will also enjoy playing here,” Matthes said.
Craig Mills, area sales manager for Farmers Insurance, said that his company and baseball has a long relationship in the state.
“Hearing the rich history of baseball in this community and knowing that we can continue that tradition in moving forward and being a small part of that is an honor for us,” Mills said. “It means a lot for us to give back to the community.”
Mills also threw out the first pitch to 9-year-old catcher, Andy Boozer, after the ground breaking and check presentation. Pastor Jerry Meyer, of the Port Orchard Nazarene Church, opened the ceremony with prayer.
Replacing backstop, improving dugouts
Drayer announced that the money will be used to replace the wooden backstop and make it higher, along with a new chain-link fence; renovate the bleachers; raise and make the dugouts larger; replace landscaping railroad ties to keep hill from eroding; repair several spots in the outfield, new netting for the hitting cages; and repair the backstop of the upper-level field.
“These fields are going to receive a ton of play,” she said. “This will help ensure that the children of the SK Western Little League have a place to play baseball for many years to come,”
SK Western Little League, which was organized in 1951, has used the field since 1984. The field serves more than 250 children on 14 baseball teams for both boys and girls, ages 7-11.
Drayer noted that Willie Bloomquist (Seattle), Josh Hammel (Oakland), Jason Ellison (scout with the Angels), Aaron Cunningham (drafted by the Chicago White Sox) and Lyle Van Boeyen, who played three seasons in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, played in the SK League League programs.
ESPN 710 Seattle has partnered for eight years with Farmers on the Improve a Field project. In 2012, the Virgil Stacey Memorial Complex in Olalla received $10,000 for a field makeover.
