Players dig out Butler baseball diamond
BUTLER TWP — When you're in a tough situation, dig in.
Butler baseball coach Dave Florie preaches those words to his players all the time, and they were put into action Tuesday afternoon.
Golden Tornado players, coaches and parents gathered at the new baseball diamond on campus Tuesday to begin shoveling snow off the infield surface.
Following a five-day Florida trip, Butler is scheduled to open the varsity baseball season March 26 at Woodland Hills. The first game on its new diamond is April 1 against Hampton.
"By the time we got back from Florida, I was looking forward to seeing all of this snow melted away," Florie said. "When I saw how much snow was up there, I figured maybe we should help it along."
By late February, more than 30 inches of snow covered the field.
"It felt like that stuff wouldn't melt until June," said Rob Swartwout, father of Golden Tornado first baseman Bobby Swartwout.
Florie and Butler Baseball Boosters president Mike Sessa, the father of pitcher Zac Sessa, decided to organize a shoveling crew.
"I couldn't guarantee anybody a spot on the team. We haven't even had tryouts yet," Florie said. "I just asked them to volunteer their time. I told the kids they could be part of history in getting this field ready for its first game. And they'd be helping the baseball program as well."
About 40 people convened at the field at 3 p.m. Tuesday and shoveled snow for more than two hours.
"We wanted to clear a few layers off the baselines and the pitching mound, try to expose the dirt a little bit," Sessa said. "With warmer temperatures coming, we wanted to get a head start."
There was about 12 inches of snow on the field when the shoveling began. When it was over, only an inch or two covered the basepaths, mound area and batting cage.
"Everybody brought shovels and they had some tarps that they shoveled snow into and dumped over the fence," Swartwout said. "They took quite a bit of snow off that field.
"They wanted to be careful not to shovel into the dirt or grass. The rest (of the snow) will have to come off naturally. But this shows how badly these kids want to make sure their field is ready."
Sessa said there won't be another opportunity to shovel more snow off the field. Butler baseball tryouts are Monday through Wednesday next week and the team heads to Cocoa Beach, Fla., March 12.
"We made a pretty good dent in it," he said. "Something like this builds team chemistry going into the season, and that's probably more important than clearing snow.
"The kids were able to shovel out the area where we're putting batting cages in. That was important because we still have to lay some gravel there. I know the coaches want to make sure the guys can get some swings in."
Florie saluted the players for their effort after the task was complete.
"There's nothing more complimentary to a player than a strong work ethic," Florie said. "Those kids did a great service to the Butler baseball program."
Butler is coming off a 13-10 season, losing to North Allegheny in the WPIAL semifinals.
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