Softball in Morgan Hill has proven to be a popular pastime – and
even a springboard for scholarships – for many a girl, and now the
local Spirit and Pride organizations may be able to offer
opportunities for more girls, instead of turning them away.
Softball in Morgan Hill has proven to be a popular pastime – and even a springboard for scholarships – for many a girl, and now the local Spirit and Pride organizations may be able to offer opportunities for more girls, instead of turning them away.
For many years, Spirit/Pride have used a softball field behind San Martin/Gwinn Elementary in San Martin. The school, located in the Morgan Hill School District, has an adjacent, unused field that Spirit/Pride officials have had their eyes on for several years. During Monday night’s regular School Board meeting, Spirit/Pride officials were granted the opportunity to present to trustees their plan for development of the unused field, in order to expand their program.
“This land is currently an open field, unmaintained, and, actually, constitutes an eyesore for this area,” said Jon Thomas, president of the Spirit of Morgan Hill Girls Fastpitch Softball. “Spirit is proposing that Spirit be given a lease for a nominal price, $1 per year, in exchange for which Spirit will develop the unused land for fields for both softball practices and games. Spirit will improve and maintain the land at no cost to the school.”
The organization proposes to provide portable storage and “snack shack” facilities. Pride currently has 420 girls involved, according to Patrick Kelly, board member. But numbers could be even larger.
‘We lack both playing and practice facilities,” he told trustees. “We’ve had to turn away girls, and that’s a very sad situation.”
Development of the area would not only benefit Spirit, Kelly said, but also the San Martin/Gwinn community.
“One benefit is kids from the school would be able to use the facility when we’re not on them,” he said. “Also people in the community.”
Trustee Mike Hickey wanted to know if the organization had met with San Martin/Gwinn Principal P.J. Foehr.
Thomas had. He said Foehr mentioned heavy machinery would already be on the campus this summer working on school renovations, so he was prepared for construction equipment, if the proposal could be approved and begin the work this summer. Foehr did not address trustees, but gave a thumbs up from his seat.
One concern brought up by Trustee Del Foster is the possibility the district will need the land in the future.
“I know we can’t park buses there, but we’re nearing the end of our lease on the corp yard,” he said.
Trustees agreed to have the proposal brought back to them on the June 28 agenda as an action item.
