By Sue Moore
Opening ceremonies for the expanded Schoolcraft Little League facilities at Swan Park will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 25 according to Troy Faulk, Little League director.
There will be two new softball fields available for play besides the three already in existence. The complex at Swan Park, next door to the Schoolcraft Township Hall on 18th Street, has been built with a lot of volunteer labor, contributions from the community and the township over the last few years. This latest expansion is costing about $40,000 according to Faulk. It would be even higher were it not for all the free labor and use of equipment.
Approximately 275 Schoolcraft area children will have the opportunity to play on diamonds that are in pristine shape, Faulk said. Adult coaches total 75 and umpires are drawn from the ranks of volunteers including parents and siblings.
Another development is the formation of two girls softball teams of 13 and 14-year olds from Mendon, Schoolcraft and Vicksburg areas. They call themselves MSV for short but are still considered a part of the Schoolcraft Little League operation.
For many years the contests took place on the diamonds in Schoolcraft owned by the school district. Now 95 percent of the games are played at Swan Park, Faulk said.