Baseball diamond gets upgrade from team

Members of the Wahkiakum High School baseball team volunteered a few hours last week to improve and beautify a diamond in the rough.

The team focused on dugouts and other structures utilized by the athletes and their fans every spring.

"Many of the outbuildings surrounding the field were in disrepair and very weathered through the years," Coach Garrett Radcliffe said. "We were fortunate to get lots of help in fixing them up."

Wahkiakum School District was able to procure paint from Sherwin Williams at a discounted price, Radcliffe said, and a local outfit, Hilton Painting, donated their time and equipment for applying the much needed paint.

"Really just a great example of school-community-team partnership," Radcliffe said. "With the donation of supplies, time, and equipment from Jeremy Hilton and the hard work of our players we were able to really give our home a facelift. I was particularly happy to see a lot of the young guys, the incoming freshmen, come and take pride and ownership in the field they'll call home for the next four years."

The team was pleased with the outcome.

"You definitely feel a difference coming into a facility that looks really good," Wahkiakum junior Grant Wilson said. "It really just ups your game and makes you want to play great."

More improvements are planned, Radcliffe said, including the leveling out of the field, the addition of bullpen pitching mounds, and student made murals and signage.