Ground-Breaking News! New Forest Baseball breaks ground on a diamond at Gang Warily Recreation Ground.
The New Forest Thunder Knights have taken a huge step towards bringing a home for baseball to the New Forest. Entering their third season, New Forest Baseball Club have installed a diamond at Gang Warily Recreation Centre to provide a dedicated space for training and for games in the South West and Wales Baseball League (SWWBL). Gracelands Civil Engineering and Groundwork (Gracelands) kindly donated their time and resources to dig out the four bases and pitching mound, with members of the baseball club picking up the tools over the weekend to get the work completed. More than 20 of the current team turned out to be part of building the new home of New Forest Baseball, with New Forest Tea Co. providing refreshments. The team’s Fundraising Manager, James Knight, said: “When we started this club three years ago, we never could have foreseen the levels of success we’ve reached in such a short amount of time. From first year playoffs, to second year expansion into two teams, to a true home in our third year, our club just keeps growing. “None of this would have been possible without support from our players, families, friends, Fawley Parish Council, Gracelands, or our other sponsors and donors through the years. A massive thank you from all of us!” As a thank you to Gracelands, the field will be named “Gracelands Field at Gang Warily” for the inaugural season. It wasn’t just through support from Gracelands that the field was possible. The club managed to raise more than £2000 via crowdfunder over the winter break, with contributions from friends, family, and the wider baseball community. Ibstock Bricks also donated vital material for the building of the pitching mound. The field will host weekly training sessions on a Wednesday as well as games for both the AA New Forest Thunder and the Single A New Forest Knights. Opening Day for the British Baseball Federation is 6th April, with the New Forest Thunder kicking off their campaign in the AA League against the Cornish Claycutters. Come down as the first pitch at the new ground is thrown, and the first game of baseball is played at our new home. Notes: