Leechburg High School baseball field to remain unplayable rest of season

The Leechburg High School baseball team will not be able to play games on its home turf for the rest of the season.

The announcement came during an April 13 school board meeting as the school’s solicitor Amy Schrempf gave a status update on the condition of the field, which is at Main and Gosser streets in West Leechburg.

The board heard comments from attendees at the meeting but declined to offer a response.

“Because this may result in litigation, the board and administration will not be responding to any comments this evening,” Schrempf said.

She reiterated Monday that litigation is possible in the case of the fields but gave no details about the nature of a possible lawsuit.

The boys baseball team currently plays at the ABC Ball Fields in Lower Burrell. The boys are dismissed early from school to travel to their games that start at 2 p.m.

Burrell Baseball Association President Carey Harris said the team plays on a game-by-game basis at the ABC Fields. The team’s season will not interfere with Little League games because the high school team plays earlier in the day than the Little Leaguers.

Earlier this month, parents of the boys baseball team expressed their frustration about the situation with the fields. One parent, Adrianne Burke, who has two boys on the team, said parents are disappointed by the slow improvements to the field.

Burke said earlier game times have become an inconvenience for parents who are unable to leave work to watch their kids play.

“We are frustrated because these kids deserve a field,” she said.

Superintendent Tiffany Nix said she was not happy with the field’s progressbut was glad the boys still have a field to play on this season.

Leechburg athletic director Andre Carter said field improvements are being made, but construction has been delayed because there have been few dry, sunny days. Axis Architecture and a contractor are working on the renovations.

The school board approved renovations to the field in July.

“The construction people have not been able to settle in,” Carter said.

School board members echoed that statement at their meeting, saying unfavorable conditions have delayed machinery work.