For the first time since the school expansion overlapped onto the former softball field in 1997, softball will be offered as part of the sports program.
By:Brian Shappell
Softball is coming back to the Cranbury School.
For the first time since the school expansion overlapped onto the former softball field in 1997, softball will be offered as part of the sports program. That’s because a new field will be built in time for the spring sports season.
“I definitely think it’s good for the school,” said Joan Rue, Board of Education president. “We’re finally catching up on projects that got deferred.”
The field will be located between the soccer field and the new wing of the school. The project will cost the school approximately $12,000, which will cover everything from the backstop to the infield, according to Chief School Administrator Robert Bartoletti.
“The plans were created over a year ago,” Dr. Bartoletti said. “We were just waiting to identify a site.”
Board members agreed with Ms. Rue that the new field and the inclusion of softball again would be good for the school.
“I have a feeling it’s going to be quite popular,” school board member Mark Madden said.
In addition, the school also will be offering baseball for the boys. Though Physical Education Teacher Frank Silva has been named coach of the first ever Cranbury School baseball team, the school is still looking to hire a coach for softball. Because there is not a regulation baseball field, the team will practice at the Village Park field and play all of their games away.
Mr. Madden said there is a possibility looming that a Babe Ruth size field may be built in the township in the future.
The softball field will, judging from past history, be used not only by students, but by many facets of the community according to Ms. Rue.
“When we did have the softball field, community groups and kids used it when Little League was going on at the park,” said Ms. Rue. “It adds to the entire community recreation package. This makes sense for everybody.”
The location of the field was also selected keeping in mind that space may be needed for a new gym in the future according to Mr. Madden.