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AUBURN, Mass. – Little League players from 15 area towns will descend upon Auburn’s Dr. Arthur and Dr. Martha Pappas Recreation Complex from Aug. 5 to 15 for an 8-9-year-old baseball tournament.
Auburn Little League President Steve Jette said the “response so far has been phenomenal.”
“Most tournaments in the area are already done before August, but we got all these towns coming because of these fields,” Jette said. “August is a little late, with football, and people are a bit tired and it’s hot, but it should work.”
The $4.3 million Pappas Recreation Complex had its grand opening June 9. The facility next to Pakachoag Church consists of five playing fields: two baseball fields (one with artificial turf and lights, one with natural grass), a field with interchangeable pitching mounds to allow both softball and baseball, and two soccer fields (one full-size with artificial turf and lights, one youth-size on natural grass).
Dugouts and gates haven’t been installed at the baseball fields yet, but Jette wants to see them in place before the August tournament.
“If they wait until after the tournament, then someone is going to get hurt,” Jette said. “We’re lucky that people didn’t get hurt over the last month. A kid’s going to get hurt, and the town’s going to be liable. At least install the gates before an incident happens.”
Auburn Department of Public Works director William Coyle said he would push to get the dugouts and gates put in before the Aug. 5 tournament.
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