Elizabethton-Carter County Youth Baseball and Softball makes plea to restore Cat Island
Published 11:06 am Friday, January 17, 2025
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent/Thick mud deposited in the dugouts during Hurricane Helene remains a significant obstacle to restoring the fields.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent/A twisted set of stands sits in the middle of right field, a stark reminder of the storm’s impact.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent/Most sections of the field’s fences were destroyed as floodwaters rushed through Cat Island.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent/A crew from the Carter County Sheriff’s Department lifts a section of fence from center field at Billy Bob Garrison Field at Cat Island.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent/Jim Ensor Field serves as a backdrop to piles of debris and broken fences left in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
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By Ron Marvel
Star Correspondent
This past fall, one of the key recreational areas for city and county youth was severely damaged by the floodwaters from Hurricane Helene. Even with snow on the ground and temperatures struggling to rise above 40 degrees this week, the sounds of bats hitting balls and the pop of leather gloves are just around the corner.
With that in mind, the Elizabethton-Carter County Youth Baseball and Softball Association (ECCYBSA) is asking for help to restore the fields at Cat Island.
“We need to restore Cat Island so the youth in our area won’t feel the sting of having just one set of playable fields,” ECCYBSA President Andy Hilton said. “We have grown this league year after year, and without Cat Island, we lose important field space.”
The league, which emphasizes fundamentals, would not only lose at least one game per week but also critical practice time if the fields remain unusable. The Cat Island fields are the primary location for youth softball, serving age groups from 6 to 12 years old.
To address the damage, the league has scheduled workdays on Jan. 21 and Jan. 22 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Volunteers are encouraged to bring tools such as rakes, shovels, wheelbarrows, brooms, and leaf blowers. Cleanup efforts will focus on areas such as the crow’s nest, dugouts, parking lots, umpires’ room, and bathrooms, with much of the work centered on removing debris and mud.
Another major task involves rebuilding the fence lines for the fields. “We are looking for businesses and individuals willing to help with new fences,” Hilton said.
For the infield restoration, ECCYBSA is partnering with Boyd Sports and the Elizabethton River Riders. The fields are currently covered in mud, sand, and silt, which must be cleared before rebuilding can begin.
“The River Riders and Boyd Sports will provide a ground crew to remove the mud and then install a new field mixture of sand, clay, and brick dust. They will also be installing new bases and pitching mounds,” Hilton explained.
The goal is to have the fields reopened by the April 1 Jamboree date. If the restoration is not completed in time, ECCYBSA plans to start the season with both softball and baseball sharing Lions Field — a less-than-ideal situation.
The league expressed gratitude to the community for the donations and assistance already received. Anyone with questions or wishing to make a donation can contact the league through their Facebook page.
