The festivities at Drakes Creek Park Monday night were the final realization for Andy Gilley that his shot in the dark actually came true.

The Hendersonville High School assistant baseball coach put in for a grant that would help fund the renovation of the school’s home field after the floods of 2010 damaged it. The $47,366 grant was awarded by the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, the renovations were made and the field officially had its grand re-opening Monday night.

With representatives of the Hendersonville Parks and Recreation Department, the Nashville Sounds, BTF Senior Grant Coordinator Meghan Chisholm, the school itself — both administration and baseball alumni — and Duane Allen of the Oak Ridge Boys there to sing the National Anthem, the field officially re-opened for the Commandos’ home opener against White House.

“It’s overwhelming and humbling really,” Gilley said. “Humbling in that all these people would want to come out here to see what’s going on, and just overwhelming that we have something this nice. We had a nice place to play before, but for a city park this is as good as anybody’s going to get.”

The grant provided funds for the restoration of the outfield, including the installation of an automatic irrigation system, warning track and outfield fence. The completion of the project will allow play on the newly restored field for 200 players from the high school varsity and junior varsity teams, as well as the Babe Ruth Recreational League, middle school spring league and various travel teams.

“I sit out here and look at what we’ve got … it’s come a long way,” said longtime Commandos coach Mike Hendrix, who leaned on the dugout fence gazing at the renovations prior to the ceremonies. “I sit here and look and think about how good these kids have it and I hope they appreciate what they’ve got.”

Gilley thinks they do.

“I think our kids have now learned to take pride in their place as well. They feel like this is home,” he said. “It’s good for them and all the guys in our baseball hall of fame that came back here tonight. “

Chihsolm was all smiles as she entered the field for the first time, seeing first hand what grants like these mean to a community.

“It’s always a delight and amazing experience to walk into a renovated baseball or softball facility that the Baseball Tomorrow Fund funded,” said Chihsolm, who came from the league offices in New York for the ceremony.

The Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF) is designed to promote the growth of youth baseball and softball throughout the world by awarding grants to support field renovation and construction projects, equipment and uniform purchases, coaches training material and other selected program expenses.

Since its formation by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association in 1999, BTF has awarded approximately 600 grants totaling more than $21 million to non-profit and tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.

“After the flood, our community was extremely concerned as to how we were to re-establish the facility,” Hendersonville Parks and Recreation Director Dave LeMarbre said in a release. “With the support of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, we were able to exceed expectations and create a first-class facility. Our community is extremely grateful and we look forward to many players using our fields for years to come.”

Approximately 300,000 youth players have benefited from programs and facilities supported by the fund. BTF also facilitates league-wide initiatives including the collection and distribution of new and gently used equipment to organizations in need as well as field maintenance education clinics.

“The Baseball Tomorrow Fund is honored to assist in funding the renovation of a baseball field that is so integral to the Hendersonville baseball community,” Cathy Bradley, executive director of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, said in a release. “We know the flooding devastated the lives of so many in this area, and we are happy to help with the restoration effort where we can.”

— Corby A. Yarbrough, Sports Editor
@Corby_Yarbrough on Twitter
corby@thegallatinnews.com