Improvements are on the way at West Jeannette’s Buster Clarkson Field, but the high school baseball coach and youth league president agree more are needed.
Lou Altieri, president of Jeannette Baseball Association, said he hopes the new pitcher’s mound and infield grading will be complete before the high school season begins.
“That’s only the tip of the iceberg down there,” he said.
Jeannette city and school district are teaming up with the association on the $19,000 project. The city is contributing $10,000, and the district is paying $4,680. The remainder will be paid through a state grant the association received.
D.G. Construction will be handling the work, which includes grading the infield to prevent water from collecting and the construction of a clay pitcher’s mound.
The field is named after James “Buster” Clarkson, the Negro National League star who played for the Pittsburgh Crawfords and numerous other teams. He died in 1989.
Marcus Clarkson has been a coach since 2001 for the high school baseball team, which plays at the field named for his great-uncle.
“I’ve seen it at its best, and I’ve seen it at its worst,” he said. “Right now, it’s probably at its worst.”
Clarkson is advocating for the removal of a padded light pole in left-center field to make room for a new batting cage that would serve both the high school and youth diamonds. To fund these and other repairs, Altieri noted the association is relying on its history of community-led fundraising.
Mayor Michelle Langdon said quads, bicycles, scooters and skateboards will be prohibited at the field, and anyone caught in violation might face a fine.
“We must protect the safety of our athletes by protecting the field,” she said.
