For the second time in a month, league’s fields rained out

May 25-- May 25--For the second time in the span of a month, Joplin Little League is asking for help to clean up a field damaged and debris-littered by flooding.

But that may not be enough to prevent the shortening of this year's baseball season -- the damage has league organizers considering asking owners of other fields for help in holding games this season and moving forward with a campaign to build a new field for future seasons.

Bob Ventura, vice president of the Joplin Little League's board of directors, said flood damage to the two fields across the street from Landreth Park on Murphy Boulevard is even worse than it was at the end of April. Joplin Creek runs almost directly behind the fields to the west.

"The power this time was substantially more," Ventura said. "This one dug several gullies where it didn't last time, and there is a lot more trash."

Floodwaters from Wednesday's storms, compounded with high recent rainfall totals, submerged the league's southern field and damaged the northern field.

Flooding from the April event had removed special "baseball dirt" -- a mix of sand and clay -- from the field. Thanks to about 20 volunteers who worked for more than eight hours earlier this month, Ventura said the league had the northern field safe and playable, albeit not perfect.

Wednesday's flooding ruined all that work, he said. Fencing has been loosened from its posts, railroad timbers have washed against a fence, and barrels have been deposited on the field. There is also a considerable amount of what can be described as just trash, he said.

He is asking for volunteers at 9 a.m. today to help clear debris and rake fields.

In its 68th year, the nonprofit league currently has about 500 players, 4 to 16 years old, on various teams. It is affiliated with the worldwide Little League Baseball and Softball leagues.

The northern and southern fields are important for the program's "minor leagues," which include more of the league's players. With one of the fields out of commission earlier this month, the league has already lost a lot of its makeup days. With no way to make up more, Ventura said the league may ask area schools and other owners of baseball fields about hosting games this season.

"We're two weeks behind already," Ventura said. "We have two extra weeks built into our schedule, but that's gone now. If we have any more rainouts, my suggestion is let's ask around and see who can help us out. I don't see how we can do it without that."

Long-term future

The repeated rainouts cast the league's future at Landreth Park into question.

The Joplin Little League leases land from the city of Joplin for its three fields at Landreth Park at a cost of $1 a year. All of the complex, from the fences to the bleachers, were built and are owned by the league, Ventura said. Between the northern and southern fields is a T-ball field that does not require much maintenance, he said.

Wednesday's damage, coming so soon on the heels of watching April's floods ruin work done in 2017, has the league considering whether to accelerate a plan to build a new complex at 10th Street and Cunningham Avenue on property already owned by the league.

The property is the site of the former Houston Field, which had become overgrown from disuse. Ventura said the league's plan is to build a similar layout of two fields and a T-ball field, complete with easily maintained stands, concessions booth and fences. But those would need to be built from scratch and require the use of heavy equipment to flatten and level the field.

The investment required for that is significant, Ventura said, especially given that the lack of games is causing the league to lose money on this season.

"We're going to need some serious partners," Ventura said. "We got the money to have it cleared off last year, but at this point, it's just property."

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