D-Backs' Counsell joins youth sports field project

Jim Williams
The Arizona Republic
May 10, 2006

BUCKEYE - Craig Counsell is not known as a home-run hitter, but the popular Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop has hit a grand slam in Buckeye.

Counsell along with the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation will help fund its latest Diamonds Back Youth baseball field in Buckeye.

The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation, which has built or refurbished 19 fields statewide since the program began in 2000, tapped the town for its 20th facility and the first in the southwest Valley. The Buckeye Town Council approved the agreement last week.

The goal of the Diamonds Back Youth Field Building Program is to provide quality facilities for baseball and softball to children across the state, said Karen Conway, the foundation's executive director.

"Economics is first and foremost," she said. "We want to be sure that the field gets adequate usage. So we try to put fields in areas were kids are able to take advantage of it."

Conway described Counsell as "very excited" to be able to be part of the Buckeye project.

An existing Little League field at the Earl Edgar Recreation Complex will be renovated with new turf, irrigation, fencing, lights, bleachers and a scoreboard. The cost of the field is estimated to be $300,000, which will be funded in part by the foundation, Counsell and Arizona Public Service Co.

Construction on the field will begin later this month. Counsell will appear at the dedication ceremony, which is planned for late June.