Indian Creek board updated on sports facilities | News, Sports, Jobs

MINGO JUNCTION — More headway is being made for sports facilities at the Indian Creek High School campus, board members learned on Oct. 20.

During the meeting at Hills Elementary School, Superintendent TC Chappelear highlighted happenings with the new softball field that is under construction and the student athletic center created in the former music building. The details came as the board approved a $5,000 donation from Bates LITE for the field’s new scoreboard. Chappelear said more work was underway to get the softball facility ready for spring while the athletic center was prepped for occupancy.

“They are working on the softball field dugout and they are adding drainage,” he said. “We hope to have the concrete slab poured from first to third base. We are working with Doug Freshwater’s construction company to construct the masonry dugouts. His company is donating part of their labor and we appreciate that.”

Board member Ted Starkey commented on Bates’ donation while Vice President John Figel inquired further. The superintendent responded that Assistant Coach John Kuczykowski had been garnering more contributions.

“He’s trying to get one more pledge,” Chappelear replied. “He’s gotten four $5,000 pledges.”

District leaders are eyeing a March completion date in hopes of holding games at the site next to the new high school building, which once served as a baseball field. It will be a full-turf facility and officials have said it was the first time Indian Creek had a softball field on campus. The team previously played at the Bantam Ridge Road location but moved to the Mingo Junction field operated by the Indian Creek Youth Baseball Softball League three years ago. The Vasco Group of Massillon is constructing the new field with James Sauer of JT Sauer and Associates Sports Architecture and Design in Canonsburg, Pa., as sports field architect. Both companies were also involved in creating Indian Creek’s football field four years ago and financing for the current project is through the district’s permanent improvement fund.

Chappelear continued that the Indian Creek Student Athletic Center was ready for occupancy. The former music building has undergone upgrades to be used as an athletic annex complete with a wrestling room and weight room. Hammond Construction, the firm involved with the school construction projects, has overseen the project and the facility will include weightlifting equipment acquired with a $50,000 grant from the Charles M. and Thelma M. Pugliese Charitable Foundation.

“The student athletic center received full occupancy and there will be a wrestling practice room on the left and a weight room on the right. The weights have been provided through generous donations from the Hammack family and the Pugliese Foundation.”

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held to formally open the building.