In November of 2023, the Deerfield athletic grounds team undertook a renovation of Frontier Regional School’s Valition and Jack Zabek baseball and softball fields. Originally planned to be done this past summer, severe flooding on campus pushed back the renovation until Fall Term.
The fields were overused due to seasonal changes and extensive use over the summer. Over time, the dirt along the edges of the field spills over, creating obstacles for games. Such uneven surfaces could cause ball hops (when the ball hits the grass and kicks up into the air) and unsafe conditions for athletes. To improve the playability and safety of the fields, the Deerfield team of twelve completely leveled and regraded the infield, and improved the bull-pen area and the batting tunnel of the softball and baseball fields. Utilizing high-tech laser grater blades, the team meticulously cut four inches of grass back from the in-field, replacing it with 5000 square feet of rolls of sod along the edge of the base path.
Frontier’s superintendent and athletic director reached out for help from Deerfield to rehabilitate the fields last summer. After carefully considering whether the team had the capacity and time to provide support, Director of Operation Jeff Galli and Assistant Director of Facilities Brett Gawenter approved the operation.
Additionally, the team personally wanted to help, as many members have familial connections with Frontier. Mr. Gewanter’s twin sons played Varsity Baseball at Frontier eight years ago. Groundsperson Ivy Palmer’s son, Rosco, will be a senior playing baseball at Frontier. The baseball coach at Frontier will also be Athletic Grounds Supervisor Chip Williams’ son’s physical education teacher
Mr. Williams said, “Just to know that the kids down there will have a really nice field to play on, it’s why we try to provide the best fields we can.”
The recent renovation was not the first project Deerfield has helped Frontier with. Around six years ago, the athletic grounds team also built four dugouts, two on each field, for Frontier. Every year, they periodically returned for small maintenance and to extend their knowledge for other projects.
Chief Financial Officer Matthew Sheehy said that Frontier and Deerfield “have always had a collaborative relationship.” He added, “Over different periods of time, they’ve donated their time and energy.”
Deerfield has also helped other past community efforts, including supporting the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts by sending students over to volunteer. The school has funded the replacement of the roof at Deerfield Elementary School and donated a portion of the funding for the school resource officer at Frontier. Mr. Sheehy said that, when deciding which projects to support, Deerfield tries to “tie it back to what are things that impact our community or the ways in which our community uses or as a part of resources within the larger community.”
Looking toward the future, Deerfield envisions deepening its collaborative relationship with Frontier, aiming to extend financial support for community initiatives on a case-by-case basis.