AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Parents and players are pushing the Amarillo City Commission to build a fastpitch softball complex at which to play and host tournaments.
There are two fields in Amarillo regulated for fastpitch league play. Thompson Fields One and Two in Thompson Park were converted to meet the requirements of fastpitch softball, but many people are still not satisfied.
Softball parent and past coach Shannon Williams said the fields are “band-aids” and are not acceptable for games and tournament play.
“With two fields, we can't bring tournaments to town,” he said. “We can't grow the sport like we need to. We want the girls to have a place to play, a place to bring some tournaments to town and make some money for the city.”
Some of the complaints are about the lights being far back behind the fence where they were before the field was modified. There are no safety bags on the bases and spectator seating is limited. Some parents are also concerned about the safety of their girls due to the unisex restroom not being located right by the field.
Williams said he and others have been pushing for over seven years to get the complex built, and other projects that came into play around the same time have already been implemented and completed. Still, parents and players have continued to take their concerns and opinions to the Amarillo City Commission.
“We've heard from quite a few people at the last two or three commission meetings on the lack of (softball fields),” said Amarillo City Commissioner Lilia Escajeda. “And so they've been at the meetings and they have voiced their concerns and have requested that the city do something about it.”
The leagues travel to places like Lubbock, Abilene and Oklahoma for tournaments since Amarillo does not have the facilities to bring in tournaments of its own. Williams said every family that travels for tournaments spends money in that city and that Amarillo would benefit from the money brought to town if tournaments could be hosted.
“Softball is a family sport,” he said. “Mom, Dad, Brother, Sister and Grandma all travel to watch the girls play. And when the game is done, they go shopping, get their nails done, go out to eat. The city hosting a tournament sees a lot of money from these families.”
Williams, along with everyone fighting alongside him, plans to keep going to the Amarillo City Commission meetings in hopes of making some progress.
"We're going to continue to go to the commission meetings. We're willing to compromise. We understand it's an expensive project. It's about a three point three million dollar project. We would like to see one point one million set aside this year, put in the budget. We'd like to see that for the next three years, break ground on the second year."
