What started as an Eagle Scout project idea back in 2023 has now become a reality, thanks to the efforts of Scout Sammy Ragones, community fundraising by the Piedmont Baseball Softball Foundation (PBSF), and city support.
The Piedmont Baseball Softball Foundation (PBSF) offered to raise funds in support of the project brought forth by Ragones, and after receiving the endorsement of both the Park and Recreation Commissions, the Council allocated $50,000 in last year’s budget to replace the cages. This funding was supplemented by $11,000 in community donations raised by PBSF.
The city says the old cage was single lane, undersized, and showing its wear. After this project, the cages are now 12 feet in height and have two lanes, allowing for double the amount of practice time. For the first time, baseball and softball teams will be able to practice batting at Coaches Field concurrently.
To create space to accommodate the wider cage, the city did some grading work, flattening the surface and building a two-foot retaining wall behind the cages and adding electrical power to support pitching machines.
While the cage construction and earth work was performed by a contractor, the project was supported by Ragones, who organized a team of volunteers to take down the netting, fencing, and aluminum supports from the old cage, as well as digging out the posts for removal by the contractor. He also installed the turf and netting once the new cages were finished.
City staff Daniel Gonzales, Nick Millosovich, and Chelle Putzer along with support of Dave McMurty (PBSF), David Ragones (Scouts), and Sammy Ragones.