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Group Pitches Baseball Proposal to Falls City School Board

By Matthew Leaf

10/09/2012

(KTNC) - With the newly renovated fields at Dallas Jones Park soon to be completed, now is the time for the Falls City School District to begin a High School Baseball program. That was the crux of the proposal put forth to the Falls City Board of Education during Monday night’s meeting by a group that wants Falls City to field a high school baseball team in the spring of the 2013-2014 school year.
Robbie Craig pitched the proposal to board members. Among the advantages of a baseball proposal, Craig said the number of hours kids who play baseball are out of class are less than with other spring sports – track and boys’ golf. He also said it would present another opportunity for kids to earn college scholarships, and he noted that it’s easier for kids to catch the eye of a college scout in spring baseball than in summer Legion Baseball.
Craig said his experience with Legion Baseball tells him Falls City could compete against larger Class B schools. (play audio :41 “at that level.”)
Board members raised several questions about the proposal, including how adding baseball would affect other spring sports; funding for a baseball program; and how adding baseball would affect the district’s compliance with Title Nine.
Board member Ed Harris wondered if, considering smaller enrollment in elementary grades, there would be sufficient numbers to maintain the program in future years.
A suggestion was made to survey students to determine the level of interest in starting a baseball program. High School Principal Gale Dunkhas and Superintendent Tim Heckenlively commented. (play audio :48)
An increasing number of schools in Nebraska are offering varsity baseball. The increase prompted the Nebraska School Activities Association to go to a two-class system in 2008, and there were 26 Class-A teams and 27 Class-B teams as of 2012.
As for costs, the baseball group estimates it would cost $15,000 to start a baseball program – including coaches’ salaries, transportation, uniforms, equipment, and paying umpires – and $12,000 annually to maintain the program.
The board made no decision Monday night. They will form a committee to consider the proposal.

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