Both Creston teams boast top-notch facilities

Randy Smith waters the batters box while Ken Smith rakes.

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No, Ben and I didn’t get our days mixed up. While he’s taking some time off around the holiday, I wanted to slip this subject matter in before the tournament season gets too far along, since we don't publish Friday, the normal day for this segment. The Panther softball field is the site of a big event tonight, as Creston takes on Lewis Central in a doubleheader to decide second place in the conference behind Harlan. But what coach Mike McCabe is really excited about is the chance to host a Class 3A regional Saturday night against Glenwood. In both softball and baseball, Creston may have the most well-kept fields in all of western Iowa. And, it’s not by accident, or luck. A dedicated crew of parents take pride in the condition of the softball field, which is immaculate, and coach Bill Krejci has employed his entire team on a daily basis for the painstaking duty of keeping up a baseball field, with all of its nuances such as a pitching mound and baseline edges. “Every time we play somebody, a coach from the other team makes a remark about how good our field looks,” Krejci said. “No matter what kind of team you have, you can have a good field to play on. I don’t let anyone on our field except the kids. They have to play on it and they will do a great job. I hear them talk about other fields. They are disappointed when they go to a bad field. It just takes a lot of time.” There’s a different philosophy in softball, but just as effective. “Since I’ve been coach we’ve had guys like Chuck and Curt Klejch, Roger Auten, Jim Harris, guys who know ball and know what to do on the field,” coach Mike McCabe said. “We sign up at our parent meeting. We ask for field help. They like coming down and doing it. It gives them some ownership. It’s nice that after a JV game, I don’t have to be out there doing that. I can get ready with the team.” The main crew of dads this summer has included Darrell Frain, Mike Miller, Randy Smith and Chad Briley, with others helping as needed. School facilities maintenance employees such as Gary Latham, Mike Reasoner and Jim Hyde have been instrumental in keeping the grass in playing condition during a challenging season of weather extremes. “Darrell is kind of the school guy who gets the field ready anyway,” McCabe said. “Ron Pendegraft is active, too, but he’s usually up in the box (announcing).” Somebody is in charge of the bases. Another handles the pitching area, and others get the batters boxes ready and rake the area down after a game. The infield is drug with equipment on a Gator and watered down with a hose. A built-in sprinkler system hasn’t been used much this summer until recently because of the rainy periods. It’s a whirlwind of activity after a game, and between JV and varsity games. It goes off like clockwork. “Most years there’s enough carryover that we always have people who know what needs to be done,” McCabe said. When asked how important the appearance of the field is to the team, McCabe had a quick answer. “It means everything,” he said. “It’s one of the things we have on our goal sheet, that we will take pride in our field. We feel it’s the best in the conference. I don’t think there is any doubt. It’s nice to hear people come over and say how nice the field is, how it’s a nice place to play. I know our fans like coming out here.” The field will not only be showcased Saturday in the 3A regional opener, but will be the site of a Class 1A regional final on July 10.