By Nick Brockman
Messenger Sports Reporter, nbrockman@the-messenger.com
Baseball season may be months away, but last week's ice storm will no doubt impact preparations for Opening Day throughout Hopkins County, including Dawson Springs, home of the Tradewater Pirates.
As clean-up begins, Pirates officials will assess the damage at Riverside Park, which is surrounded by trees.
"It's a disaster area down there," general manager Dwight Seymore said. "I haven't even been able to get in there yet. I've just been looking from across the river, so I don't know the extent.
"I know that there's debris everywhere. You can't even get a vehicle or a four-wheeler in there right now. We're going to have to wait until the weekend when I can get free and start sawing stuff up and get that out of the way."
Despite his blocked view of the field, Seymore said the grandstand appears not to be damaged. The same cannot be said for the batting cage nets and outfield fence. Trees have fallen from the weight of ice and crashed down on both structures.
For the Pirates, members of the K.IT. League, the annual budget does not allow for many unexpected expenses, and Seymore said the financial repercussions of the clean-up will undoubtedly be felt.
"It certainly will affect us somewhat," he said. "I'm expecting a couple or three thousand worth of expenses plus gas. It's definitely going to have an impact on us."
As clean-up begins, Pirates officials will assess the damage at Riverside Park, which is surrounded by trees.
"It's a disaster area down there," general manager Dwight Seymore said. "I haven't even been able to get in there yet. I've just been looking from across the river, so I don't know the extent.
"I know that there's debris everywhere. You can't even get a vehicle or a four-wheeler in there right now. We're going to have to wait until the weekend when I can get free and start sawing stuff up and get that out of the way."
Despite his blocked view of the field, Seymore said the grandstand appears not to be damaged. The same cannot be said for the batting cage nets and outfield fence. Trees have fallen from the weight of ice and crashed down on both structures.
For the Pirates, members of the K.IT. League, the annual budget does not allow for many unexpected expenses, and Seymore said the financial repercussions of the clean-up will undoubtedly be felt.
"It certainly will affect us somewhat," he said. "I'm expecting a couple or three thousand worth of expenses plus gas. It's definitely going to have an impact on us."
Still, Seymore said he's confident the organization will take care of all repairs well before the season starts.
"We don't anticipate that the public will notice any difference at all by the time it comes to play," Seymore said. "One of the things to consider is we play (Dawson Springs) varsity baseball down there, too. They'll start in early March, and we fully intend to have it back up and running for them to play, too, so it should have no bearing on the Pirates at all except for the cost."
Tradewater skipper Brandon Kitch, who works as an assistant at Faulkner University (Ala.), observed the headlines from outside the affected area, but said he was aware of the conditions.
"My hometown got hit pretty hard in Oklahoma and I know it was going up that way," Kitch said. "I heard it was pretty bad."
While Seymore and others will be tasked with returning the field to playing condition, Kitch will continue his efforts to round out the final spots on the Pirates' roster.
Kitch said he has officially signed 17 players thus far and will be looking for one more middle infielder, and will fill the remaining spots with pitchers.
Since his hiring, Kitch said he had a good idea of how to use his allotted 24 roster spots.
"I didn't want to get in a position where I had 14 to 15 position players and 10 pitchers," he said. "I plan on having 11 to 12 position players and that way I won't run into guys saying 'Why am I not playing?'
"I plan on having two guys at third, two guys at first, three guys up the middle and four outfielders. The only probably is, if somebody goes down, then we're in trouble as far as getting an injury."
One school Kitch is hoping to lure a couple of players from is the University of Arizona through his relationship with assistant coach Mark Wasikowski.
"I've coached a couple of their kids in the summer before, and I'm hoping he'll send us one or two arms, but I haven't heard anything yet," Kitch said.
Initially, Kitch set a target date of Feb. 1 for completing the roster, but said he's happy having the bulk of it taken care of. Kitch's Faulkner squad began its season over the weekend in San Diego (Calif.), and playing opposing teams may provide the Tradewater coach with opportunity to scout potential Pirates.
"This weekend I was in San Diego, and I'm looking for a middle infielder," Kitch said. "Their shortstop was really, really good and I liked him. I went up to their coach and said, 'Hey, where's your shortstop going for the summer?'"
Unfortunately, the shortstop had already been locked up, but Kitch said he's going to continue approaching players who catch his eye.
Tradewater will open the 2009 season when they play host to the Marion Bobcats at 7 p.m. May 29.
"We don't anticipate that the public will notice any difference at all by the time it comes to play," Seymore said. "One of the things to consider is we play (Dawson Springs) varsity baseball down there, too. They'll start in early March, and we fully intend to have it back up and running for them to play, too, so it should have no bearing on the Pirates at all except for the cost."
Tradewater skipper Brandon Kitch, who works as an assistant at Faulkner University (Ala.), observed the headlines from outside the affected area, but said he was aware of the conditions.
"My hometown got hit pretty hard in Oklahoma and I know it was going up that way," Kitch said. "I heard it was pretty bad."
While Seymore and others will be tasked with returning the field to playing condition, Kitch will continue his efforts to round out the final spots on the Pirates' roster.
Kitch said he has officially signed 17 players thus far and will be looking for one more middle infielder, and will fill the remaining spots with pitchers.
Since his hiring, Kitch said he had a good idea of how to use his allotted 24 roster spots.
"I didn't want to get in a position where I had 14 to 15 position players and 10 pitchers," he said. "I plan on having 11 to 12 position players and that way I won't run into guys saying 'Why am I not playing?'
"I plan on having two guys at third, two guys at first, three guys up the middle and four outfielders. The only probably is, if somebody goes down, then we're in trouble as far as getting an injury."
One school Kitch is hoping to lure a couple of players from is the University of Arizona through his relationship with assistant coach Mark Wasikowski.
"I've coached a couple of their kids in the summer before, and I'm hoping he'll send us one or two arms, but I haven't heard anything yet," Kitch said.
Initially, Kitch set a target date of Feb. 1 for completing the roster, but said he's happy having the bulk of it taken care of. Kitch's Faulkner squad began its season over the weekend in San Diego (Calif.), and playing opposing teams may provide the Tradewater coach with opportunity to scout potential Pirates.
"This weekend I was in San Diego, and I'm looking for a middle infielder," Kitch said. "Their shortstop was really, really good and I liked him. I went up to their coach and said, 'Hey, where's your shortstop going for the summer?'"
Unfortunately, the shortstop had already been locked up, but Kitch said he's going to continue approaching players who catch his eye.
Tradewater will open the 2009 season when they play host to the Marion Bobcats at 7 p.m. May 29.
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