November/December 2020 - 13

" There are all-stars coming from all across the country who want to play professional baseball,
and the field just wasn't up to the specs they're used to. The unevenness, it just wasn't
deserving of the players. " - Brad Pfeifer, president of the Hyannis Harbor Hawks
removed from the field, Pfeifer said,
while 12,000 yards of new materials
were brought in.
Several other baseball teams get
use out of the field, too, including St.
John Paul II High School in Hyannis.
The Lions, as they're known, won
three straight state championships
from 2014-16, playing out of preconstruction
McKeon Park.
After spending the 2019
season playing home games at
Massachusetts Maritime Academy,
about 25 miles away in Buzzards
Bay - their season doesn't quite
lineup with the Harbor Hawks - the
Lions sat idle in the spring of 2020
thanks to the coronavirus pandemic,
which cancelled all spring sports in
the Bay State.
St. John Paul II coach Chris
Russell said that at times during
practices, the team wouldn't be able
to use right field or even portions
of center field if there'd been recent
rains. Despite its shortcomings,
Russell said that his team was
spoiled playing at McKeon Park even
before the renovations. Now, it'll be a
whole new level, he said.
" We're so spoiled, " Russell said.
" It's level, it drains well now, there's
beautiful dugouts...high school kids
go in there and just don't know how
good they have it. "
Added St. John Paul II Athletic
Director Richard Fazzi, " being a
former Division III basketball coach
and then coming here, seeing the
work that was getting done, I just
couldn't believe that this is where a
high school plays baseball games. It's
just such a first-class facility. I was in
awe of how lucky our kids are to play
on a field that looks like this. "
There are still some more
upgrades coming to McKeon Park,
including new bleachers for fans -
though many of the roughly 2,500
who come through on game days set
up shop beyond the outfield fences in
lawn chairs, anyways.
The Harbor Hawks' 2020
season was also kiboshed by the
coronavirus pandemic. With a hope
that things will be resolved in time
to salvage next season, Pfeifer
is taking a pragmatic approach.
He acknowledged how many of
the teams' sponsors are hurting
financially because of the pandemic,
but stayed cautiously optimistic that
things will be ready to roll in time
for Hyannis's home opener, which
already has a date: June 13, 2021 vs.
the Cotuit Kettleers at 6 PM.
" I'm thinking we'll be fine, " Pfeifer
said. " I have to think that, I guess. "
Bringing the
G2L Game to Life
Window Systems are exclusively designed
for Sports Luxury Boxes/Pressboxes
* Weather resistant, frameless, sliding window system
* Cost savings of up to 40% when compared to other systems
* Full-visibility laminated glass
Malvern, AR Leopard Stadium:
Malvern, AR showcased its new facility in August 2020. The Malvern
Leopards have built a facility that is second to none-complete with a VIP
area and an athletic director suite featuring the G2L Window System.
www.G2Lwindows.com
479-444-6214
Choose #110 online
COACHAD.COM 13

http://www.G2Lwindows.com http://www.COACHAD.COM

November/December 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November/December 2020