Back in the dark ages, Oh… so many, many years ago, I was lucky enough to wear the pinstripes of the Covington Catholic Colonels baseball team. I can’t explain the thrill I had in wearing that uniform for each and ever game through my wonderful four years of playing for Hep Cronin at CovCath, but when I see the field that the current Colonels play on, I admit to being jealous.

Our field had a knothole style backstop and the dugouts were pieces of wood on some bricks. The infield grass? What infield grass, it was dirt or should I say sand. The outfield was used by the then brand new CovCath football team as their practice and game field during the fall. Talk about ruts!

You could get killed if you went after a long fly ball in the outfield if a car happened to drive by at the wrong time, and it was a ground rule double if the ball rolled over the road, even in the deepest part of center field. The foul territory along the right field line was in fact dangerous to venture onto as it went straight down a rather steep hill and I have seen outfielders literally fall and roll over and over head first down that hill after trying to make a catch.

Oh I forgot to mention, there was no Grubbs Grill or those wonderful Mary Burgers, in fact the closest bathroom or water fountain was in the back of the gym no where near the ball field.

Why am I bringing up this ancient history? Well if you haven’t had the pleasure in attending a game this season at CovCath, then you haven’t seen all the wonderful improvements that have been done to the complex. The new building behind home plate, the new CovCath dugout, the new stands behind the backstop, the new sound system and the improvements on the field itself make the ball diamond indeed a first class place to play and watch a baseball game. I for one love the signs that show all the history of the CovCath baseball teams and I am proud to say I was a member of a team that has a place of honor on one of those signs, and it indeed brought back some great memories to me.

Now some of it this work was done by contracted labor by a generous donation from the Marge Schott foundation but most of the work, the things that I love about the ball field were done by the generosity, hard work and dedications of a lot of folks, but mostly these gentlemen I will mention below.

Thank you John Michels, Coach Krumps, John and Gary Hebbeler and you too Don Martin, for your time, your hard work and your caring. You gentlemen prove that the CovCath Motto of “With a spirit, that will not die” is still alive and well. To these old eyes our home field is a thing of beauty, and as nice of a baseball diamond as you will find anywhere.

Saying thank you isn't clearly enough to you John, Krumps, John, Gary and Don but thank you, over and over again.

Theoldguy

 

I will post some pictures below

Pictures of the CovCath baseball field...

It is a nice place to play. It is amazing the difference between several fields today versus some years ago. Great job by all of those involved. :thumb:

Very nice. Kudos to all those involved.

 

:clap:

Much improved over the many years of Coach Krumplebeck. I remember no sideline fences and Krumplebeck dragging the outfield with his pickup due to the ruts and no grass from football practice.

Wow, what a difference a year makes. We played a summer league game there last year and those pictures look totally different.:thumb:

Great new look for a program old in tradition. Great job to the men who mad it happen.

WOW!! I played here last year and this is the first time I have seen the improvements...Im going to have to get out and see a game before the seasons over!!

Very nice field just played there today. Only complaint is visitors dugout lol. Very small ceiling but its a good place to play.

Edited May 5, 200917 yr by Ram
Rule 13

Very nice field just played there today. Only complaint is visitors dugout lol. Very small ceiling but its a good place to play.

 

Not sure when they're going to redo the visitor's side but I know it's in the plans somewhere.

Edited May 5, 200917 yr by Ram

That is pretty nice what they have done to it. I havent seen the field since the last time I walked off of it back in 2004. Which was pretty nice seeing that pic of the district championships and 2004 missing.

 

Sorry had to say that. In all seriousness though it is really nice what they have done to the field. It looks really good. :thumb:

The field definately looks better than it has in the past. The home dug-out is nice and behind the back-stop looks real nice now but other than that really don't see no more improvements over the last 5 years that have taken place. Krumps and Michels do a great job on the field getting it ready to play on day in and day out. I would definately put it in the top 6 fields in NKY

 

1.St Henry- Like a minor league park

2.Scott- spaced out nice best concession with press box and locker-rooms and best lighting of all fields

3. Dixie- Newest of all but fences are short because not enough land

4.Campbell- Nice but up on a big hill concessions and restrooms to far away from field

5. Cov Cath-Maintenance on field is great with the coaches need new pa system and concession stand.

6. Boone- nice grass infield pitchers mound is way to high though

The field definately looks better than it has in the past. The home dug-out is nice and behind the back-stop looks real nice now but other than that really don't see no more improvements over the last 5 years that have taken place. Krumps and Michels do a great job on the field getting it ready to play on day in and day out. I would definately put it in the top 6 fields in NKY

 

1.St Henry- Like a minor league park

2.Scott- spaced out nice best concession with press box and locker-rooms and best lighting of all fields

3. Dixie- Newest of all but fences are short because not enough land

4.Campbell- Nice but up on a big hill concessions and restrooms to far away from field

5. Cov Cath-Maintenance on field is great with the coaches need new pa system and concession stand.

6. Boone- nice grass infield pitchers mound is way to high though

 

The brand new facility behind the backstop went unnoticed? Locker rooms, new indoor batting cages, and weight lifting room? :idunno:

The field definately looks better than it has in the past. The home dug-out is nice and behind the back-stop looks real nice now but other than that really don't see no more improvements over the last 5 years that have taken place. Krumps and Michels do a great job on the field getting it ready to play on day in and day out. I would definately put it in the top 6 fields in NKY

 

1.St Henry- Like a minor league park

2.Scott- spaced out nice best concession with press box and locker-rooms and best lighting of all fields

3. Dixie- Newest of all but fences are short because not enough land

4.Campbell- Nice but up on a big hill concessions and restrooms to far away from field

5. Cov Cath-Maintenance on field is great with the coaches need new pa system and concession stand.

6. Boone- nice grass infield pitchers mound is way to high though

 

The brand new facility behind the backstop went unnoticed? Locker rooms, new indoor batting cages, and weight lifting room? :idunno:

I did notice the building behind the back-stop it looks very nice and I am sure the batting cages inside are nice also this helps out alot especially during the off season kids can hit year around. Still think the complex is number 5 in nky but that is just my opinion.:ylsuper:

The field definately looks better than it has in the past. The home dug-out is nice and behind the back-stop looks real nice now but other than that really don't see no more improvements over the last 5 years that have taken place. Krumps and Michels do a great job on the field getting it ready to play on day in and day out. I would definately put it in the top 6 fields in NKY

 

1.St Henry- Like a minor league park

2.Scott- spaced out nice best concession with press box and locker-rooms and best lighting of all fields

3. Dixie- Newest of all but fences are short because not enough land

4.Campbell- Nice but up on a big hill concessions and restrooms to far away from field

5. Cov Cath-Maintenance on field is great with the coaches need new pa system and concession stand.

6. Boone- nice grass infield pitchers mound is way to high though

 

BTW I have been told new speakers and equipment have been donated and will be installed soon.

 

Who cares about the concession stand looks, when Mary's burgers are the best found anywhere! I sometimes wonder if more folks come for the burgers, than come to see the game!

 

Be patient, there are more improvements on the way for next year...