BCHS softball field first to go

RECORD PHOTOS: David Ball

For the Record: David Ball

Workers were completing the cleanup on Tuesday after the Bridge City High School softball stadium was demolished on Monday. A portion of the baseball field will be demolished next.

The old fields are making way for new ones after the Bridge City Independent School District Board of Trustees approved building them at their June meeting.

The baseball field will have a synthetic turf infield and a natural grass outfield. The baseball and softball fields will have new fences, new scoreboards, new dugouts, new restrooms and concession stand and new bleachers.

The stadium lights at the baseball field aren’t very old, so the district will keep them. However, the stadium lights at the softball field are older and will be replaced with LED lights. Additionally, two light poles at the softball field will need to be moved because the fence will be moved back per UIL rules from 185- feet to 200-feet.

The fence at the baseball field will be kept.

Also, the baseball field will be renamed for late former baseball coach, Chuck Young, who was inducted into the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2008.

Former Cardinal baseball players from 1967 until as recent as last season participated in the alumni game and home run derby. The alumni displayed and mounted a sign honoring Young on the left field fence recognizing the former Bridge City coach.

Young racked up nearly 700 career wins as a high school baseball coach. He took over the Bridge City baseball program in 1967 and led the Cardinals to the final round of the UIL State Baseball Championships in 1992 assisted by Coach Charles Miller. Young moved on to coach for Texas City High School reaching the state finals in 2007.

Young coached 31 playoff teams that included the two state baseball tournament appearances, six regional semifinalist, 10 regional quarterfinals championships, 15 bi-district championships and 15 district championships.

RECORD PHOTO: David Ball