Youth field updates bring sense of pride into Cornell

City of Cornell-Field of Dreams Committee members and city representatives were on hand for the grand reopening of the Little League field May 8, to officially celebrate all the improvements made to the space. Benches still need to be installed and some concrete work is planned, but the new fence is up and the field is playable. Present for the special ceremony, left to right, are Aimee Korger, Josh Schwingle, Nicole Schwingle, Terry Smith, Ashley Carothers, mayor Mark Larson, Dave Hugh, Amy Hugh, Shelley DeJongh and Dave DeJongh. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

For years, Cornell and Holcombe youth have played on the Little League field at Mill Yard Park, located near the Chippewa River in Cornell. While taking part in the learning skills they’ll need later on in the “big leagues,” the kids also form friendships and develop a sense of fair play.

Now, that field is almost like new, after improvements were made through fundraising efforts. Recognizing that the field fence needed replacement, along with other repairs, a group of sports parents got together and with the blessing from the city, launched a fundraising campaign late last summer.

“It just flew off from there,” said Ashley Carothers, chair of the City of Cornell-Field of Dreams project.

In a little under five months, the $50,000 was raised by donation and in-kind amounts, to replace the dugouts, the infield and fence, the bases and to pour concrete that will sit under the bleachers.

“It couldn’t be done without all the people who donated their time, their money, their resources,” said Carothers.

The field – known as the Craig Bauer Memorial Field, in honor of a Little League player who tragically lost his life at a young age – is helping bring pride into Cornell, according to Carothers. She also attributes the true start of the project to the Sime family, who discovered a longlost plaque, commemorating the field to Bauer.

The Simes decided they wanted to do something in his memory, as one of their sons played with Bauer, and erected a new sign for all to see, so everyone would remember their former teammate.

Carothers said she is so thankful for everyone who has supported the improvements and for the new life it’s brought to the field.

“We get to continue to honor a young man that played on this field,” said Carothers.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="743"] The new fence, funded by the Cornell School District, is installed and ready for games at the youth baseball field (Craig Bauer Memorial Field) at Mill Yard Park. The improvements also feature new dugouts, new bases, a new infield and will have new benches. (Inset) The family of Bauer donated a statute of a youth Little League player to the field, which will be set in concrete as their “mascot.” Photo by Ginna Young[/caption] [caption id="attachment_177289" align="alignnone" width="300"] Amy McCune, sister of Craig Bauer, threw out the official first pitch to Bauer’s uncle, mayor Mark Larson, at the updated Cornell youth ballfield May 8. Bauer, a Cornell Little League player, tragically lost his life at a young age about 30 years ago. Photo by Ginna Young[/caption]