California University of Pennsylvania shares the disappointment of WPIAL officials, players and softball fans who hoped to see the 2019 softball championships played at Cal U (“WPIAL again forced to move softball championships,” April 12, TribLIVE.)
A major renovation is underway at the University’s Lilley Field, and work won’t be done in time to host the games.
What’s the holdup? In a word, weather.
During the fall construction season California experienced 69 days of rain, with up to 3 inches falling in a single day. That relentless rain — and the time it took for the field to dry out between storms — delayed all aspects of the project, from excavating soil to pouring concrete footers for the dugouts, grading the playing field and installing the outfield turf.
Cal U’s offer to host the 2019 softball championships was made in good faith — but we can’t control the weather. The university alerted WPIAL officials as soon as it became clear that the field would not be ready in time for the event.
We look forward to fair weather so we can complete the project, and we remain hopeful that the WPIAL softball championships will return to Cal U in 2020.
Christine Kindl
California, Pa.
The writer is vice president for communications and marketing at California University of Pennsylvania.