Thursday, April 13 Fields of Dreams By Jessie Burchette  Salisbury Post The East Rowan Little League is on the verge of converting a decade of dreams into an eight-field athletic complex for hundreds of children. Little League officials recently received approval from the Rowan County Board of Commissioners to build the new facility on 40 acres at the end of Fleetwood Drive, off Oddie Road. During the 10 years of dreams, the League members worked to raise the money to buy enough land for a facility that could accommodate the youngsters -- both boys and girls -- who want to play ball. The complex could also accommodate a fast-pitch softball league. Approximately 350 youngsters participate in 34 Little League teams with games played at the Granite Quarry and Faith elementary schools fields. Little League members and parents have dreamed of a facility with enough fields to serve all the youngsters and games. For years families have been split up on game days, with children often playing at separate fields. Brad Bost, league vice president, said they expect to complete acquisition of the the property from the Rufty family. The next project will be a major fundraising campaign. The total project is expected to cost between $750,000 and $1.2 million depending on the final design. They plan to kick off a fundraiser later this year and hope to tap into foundations as well as get support from businesses, individuals and other groups. Raising the needed funds will be the key to getting the facilities ready within the two-year timetable. Bost is a relative newcomer who has served on the league board for two years. Many others have been involved for more than a decade. Among those is David Brown who said recently he did his first fundraiser for the Little League when his son was 10. Now he's 23. The years of fundraising have paid off. The league has the money to buy the land. Now it's on to designing and creating the fields and facilities. Bill Burgin of Ramsey, Burgin, Smith architects of Salisbury is doing the design work. Four fields will be fit in a pie-shaped area, sharing concessions and restroom facilities. Four other fields of different sizes will be located at other points on the property, along with additional rest room and concession facilities. Large areas of paved parking are included in the plan. League officials and county planners are working with the N.C. Department of Transportation to get the speed limit on Oddie Road lowered near the intersection with Fleetwood Drive. Another option may be relocating the entrance. The league plans to upgrade Fleetwood Drive sufficiently to be accepted on the state secondary road system for maintenance. League officials worked closely with county planning staff to go through the conditional use permit process for nonprofit athletic fields. As part of the process, the league, which has operated as a nonprofit organization, has now applied for 501(c) (3) status from the Internal Revenue Service. League officials also agreed to the county's buffering and lighting standards as well as carrying liability insurance. Meeting with county commissioners, Bost emphasized that the athletic complex could be used for tournaments that will boost hotel stays, restaurant visits and other sales and services. The league and the project drew praise from county commissioners. "They will be some of the best neighbors you'll ever have," said Chairman Arnold Chamberlain to a neighbor who has worried about trespassers and current problems from ATVs on the vacant property. For more information or to make a donation, contact Bost at 704-633-0311.

By Sandy Greene The Salisbury Post April 1, 2007  A rainbow of colors spread over the Faith ballfield Saturday from teams of the East Rowan Little League. Children from 5 to 12 were excited to hear their names called while they ran across home plate. But others at the big celebration were excited for another reason. Excitement over plans of a 40-acre ballfield complex sped through the crowd faster than any fast-pitched ball ever could. As the children enjoyed concessions, games and a day of being in the spotlight, Dale Peeler, board chairman for the East Rowan Little League, prepared to make the big announcement of the new capital campaign, which will raise money for the completion of what has been dubbed, "The Field Of Dreams -- East Rowan Little League." After each child's name was called and he or she stood with their team, Peeler told the huge crowd gathered it had been about 12 years since the original board first had a dream. Now, it was time to continue the dream. "You gotta make dreams come true," Peeler added. Then he requested that everyone "Step up to the plate," the slogan for the new capital campaign. A year ago, the funds were raised to purchase 40 acres off Oddie Road so all the games could be held at one place. Currently, families with multiple children playing struggle with running back and forth between ballfields in the area. Peeler said Faith Elementary "has been gracious" as one of the sites allowing the league to use its ballfields. But in the near future, he said, extra mobile classes could be added and placed on one of the current fields. Although the league may use the school's space in the future, the organization really just needs more room. Many agree with Peeler. Brad Bost, president of the East Rowan Little League, says new ballfields are something really needed in the community so children and families are not separated. "Right now, families are scattered," he said. The 40 acres will include nine separate ballfields serving different types of play, from coach pitch to girls softball. This year will be the first East Rowan Little League has included girls softball. "Hey, look out there. There's almost 600 kids on the field today," Peeler told the crowd. He said that never could have been done if Nell Tolley had not had a dream. In years past, Tolley coached girls softball and ran the organization for the Rockwell inter-civic organization, which all girls have played in the past. Until this year. Tolley is thrilled over the new campaign. "Build a field, and they will come," she said. Tolley was among several recognized during the ceremony. Peeler said it's been a tradition to bring back someone who has excelled in the sport. This year, they decided to bring back people who are considered the founding fathers of the league. Tolley was one of those, as well as Jack Taylor, who coached for 29 years and had several outstanding teams. His 1990 team won the state championship. "Jack Taylor always said if he ever won the lottery, the first thing he would do would be to build a Little League complex," Peeler said. Leon Barger, another figure many adults in the area remember seeing every Saturday morning as children, was mentioned, too. "If you didn't have a glove, he would give you one," Peeler said. "I can't imagine this many children in the program," said Barger's son, Buddy. He said his father just always wanted to teach the children discipline and how to work as a team. He said he knew his father would be proud. "This is amazing." After Barger spoke, the traditional first pitch was thrown by another well-known figure in the community, Pop Grimes, who is referred to mostly as "Pop." Peeler said "Pop" has run the concession stands for years and announces the games. Once games begin on Monday, families will still be scattered about, but most hope that with the new campaign, it won't be long before that changes.  Darrin Brown, who has two children in the league, says he and his family has spent many years driving from one ballfield to the other to see his sons, Will and Chase, play. He says, for their family, things will be easier because the fields his sons will play on this season will be back-to-back. Brown says he has always loved the organization but the completion of the new complex will be the "icing on the cake" for the kids and parents. "That will be off the chart," he said. Peeler said it may take $3.8 million to build the complex, but with many volunteers and what Peeler called "in-kind services" from people offering building materials and such, he hopes it may not take that much. He told the crowd Saturday morning he is confident necessary funds will be raised, reminding them of how fast funds were earned for the East Rowan YMCA. "Today we're moving forward," he said. "But to do this, it will take everyone to step up to the plate."