The Team Gets a Locker Room!

Article

and photos by Sandra Campbell

Baseball is the harbinger of Summer sports. Americans began playing baseball around 1840 according to the Baseball Hall of Fame website, and the game has had a role in the shaping of America. Young players have found empty lots and fields to play in for decades.

Fulton High School has had a baseball team since

1952. There have always been students interested in playing baseball for Fulton. Baseball is one of the more traditional team sports which helps teach the young players sportsmanship and supporting one another through the ups and downs on the field.

For many years, the team dressed for games in less-than-desirable conditions. Students must really want to play when they are dressing in their cars, the back of pick-up trucks, in corners of the dugout, or in the dim and dusty little makeshift locker room. The players, until this year, did not have an official locker room.

Buzz McNish, new to Fulton High School this year as both an 865 Academy Assistant and Fulton’s new head baseball coach, wasn’t keen on this continuing as the norm. Immediately after beginning in August, he assessed the situation and determined the beaten-up and under-utilized facility needed to be upgraded and used by the players.

According to Coach McNish, the building has been on the premises since the 1960s. “A small locker room had been put into the space in 2012. It was small, dirty, and uninviting to the team. Even if they did go there to change for the game, they would knock one another over in an effort to get out first.” McNish states.

Reasons for the lack of improvements in the past may have been due to instability in the baseball coaching staff according to McNish. Having multiple coaches over the years or those not fully invested enough, these types of projects fall through the cracks. Working on the facility was less important in the overall scheme of daily tasks. Another reason was the amount of work involved in organizing all the parties to gain permission and help in completing necessary tasks is a huge undertaking.

“There was a good size building, not being utilized, that had a very small locker room that was not really being used.” Coach McNish said. He started by meeting with the local youth organizations, the City of Knoxville, and any potential donors and contractors to get an idea of what could be done to the facility. The building is part of the City of Knoxville’s Parks. Known as Christenberry Ballfields, they are managed by the City of Knoxville. Changes to the structure must go through an approval process.

Once the project had been cleared for completion, then the work of raising funds began; there were several community partners invested in the project, most of whom wish to remain anonymous; a couple, like the Fulton Alumni Association and Worley Contractors, were happy to provide resources and help to complete the dream.

“Prior to having the new facilities, the players did not have a secure and clean place to change.” Coach McNish reflected on how it has impacted the team and game. “Now, players want to hang out in there and spend time with each other. From a coaching perspective, this helps; because it helps with team building and relationships.”

“The City of Knoxville and community supporters have been very helpful, and instrumental in helping to complete the project.” according to McNish. “The biggest gain is players are starting to have some pride in their facilities.”