ANNA MARIA — Come out to the old ballgame at the Center of Anna Maria Island.
Just in time for baseball season, the rededicated field is sporting new sod, an updated irrigation system and an improved clay area at home plate. Pirates Charities Funding provided grant funding for the project. Blue Lagoon Landscaping of Bradenton completed the work in time for the March 22 rededication.
Members of the Scanio, Cagnina and Hutchinson families joined the Center’s staff, which honored them for their families’ contributions to baseball and sports programming at the Center.
The Center rededicated three plaques at its Scanio-Hutchinson field during the festivities. Each plaque represents a man instrumental in creating the original baseball diamond, Benji Scanio, Fred Hutchinson and Michael Cagnina.
Center recreation director Will Schenerlein thanked members of each family for their continued dedication to the organization’s sports programs. He also recognized Pittsburgh Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle for his support of the Center.
“We couldn’t have done this without the Pittsburgh Pirates,” Schenerlein said.
“We’re honored to serve and happy to help,” Hurdle said.
Beginning May 20, youth can participate in T-ball season and machine pitching. Contact Schenerlein at 941-778-1908, ext. 205, for more information, or visit http://centerami.org/sports/