World Series Park prepped and ready to host state tournament

Since its grand opening in October of 2004, World Series Park in Saugus has quickly garnered acclaim among baseball fields in the area and the process hasn’t gone unnoticed. For the first time since coming into fruition, Saugus’ field of dreams will play host to the Eastern Massachusetts 15-year-old Babe Ruth State Tournament.While the field is kept in solid condition throughout the baseball season (and off-season as well), certain preparations have been made since the park was named as the site of the tournament. Bob Davis, the superintendent of World Series Park, has been at the helm of the preparation movement.After Wednesday’s torrential downpours, it could be assumed that the field would need a lot of work come Thursday morning, but thanks to a big decision by the park committee, the field was puddle-free Thursday morning.”The biggest preparation effort we made was having more material brought in and having the field laser-graded, which was a considerable cost,” Davis said. “With the rains we saw Wednesday, there normally would be puddles for a few days without any work, but we wanted the field looking pristine and the work we had done allowed that.”According to Davis, 41 tons of infield mix were added and graded out with the help of a transit, which measured elevation levels, while a crew solidified the dirt and re-cut all the edges. The whole week was cleared of games at the park for preparation purposes.Davis also expressed his high hopes for the tournament’s introduction ceremony, which he believes will serve as both an inspirational and touching start to things.”We’re going to start by playing a clip from ‘The Natural’ where James Earl Jones talks about how baseball has always survived before we announce the teams,” he explained.The color guard from the JROTC in Lynn will march on the field for the singing of the national anthem before a prayer and remarks from the tournament’s board. The conclusion of the opening ceremony will be a tribute in honor of the late Ronnie Barressi, who died in April. Barressi was the president of Saugus Babe Ruth for nearly 20 years.On the honor of being selected to host the tournament, Davis expressed both pleasure and pride.”This park has come a long, long way since it opened. It was just the fenced-off ballfield at first before the additions of the batting cage, dugouts, press box and concession stand, and then the patio,” said Davis.Some small and simple things like advertising the tournament with a large sign on the park’s patio roof welcoming the crowds to the tournament, as well as an expanded menu at the concession stand, have all been seen to. A tent will be set up to the right of the home plate area for media purposes.One of the only things left to add is lights, of which just the idea is enough to make Davis’ head spin.”We began fundraising for lights last September and have raised around $15,000, but need a quarter of a million,” he said.”Obviously the lights would expand the use of the facility, but it would also add about three hours to my day, so I’m conflicted,” said a chuckling Davis.Weather permitting, Davis believes that the tournament should be a huge success.”The weather was predicted to be good through Sunday with a chance of thunderstorms on Monday and Tuesday,” said Davis.If rainouts are to take place, Davis and the committee have ironed out backup plans to make sure the tournament gets finished in timely fashion.In a town noted for its sites and monuments (i.e., the Saugus Iron Works, the Orange Dinosaur), World Series Park, thanks to Davis and the rest of the field’s committee members, is making a name for itself.