Central Magnet baseball, softball teams win approval for fields: 'We're ready to have our own place'

Central Magnet School's baseball and softball teams will gain off-campus home fields, the Rutherford County Board of Education decided Thursday.

Unlike the ball fields provided at other schools, the Central Magnet campus serving high academic achievers on East Main Street in downtown Murfreesboro lacks space for the teams. Central Magnet also needs fields after the Murfreesboro government requested the school find other locations rather than use ball fields at city parks shared by recreation leagues for youth and adults.

'Problem getting worse and worse': Lack of ball fields impacts leagues in Murfreesboro

Only board member Coy Young opposed the 6-1 vote on a plan that includes the varsity boys baseball team gaining a field at the Lascassas Elementary School in a rural community he represents northeast of Murfreesboro.

Young said he wants Central Magnet teams to have ball fields but requested for the decision to be postponed for 30 days to provide more information to Lascassas residents worried about traffic and use of the campus.

"We did not communicate properly," said Young, who's retiring from the board after August and will be replaced by recently elected Stan Vaught .

Young provided similar comments about communicating with Lascassas residents about the plans during the work session Aug. 20 to prepare for the Aug. 22 meeting.

"It's a slap in that community's face," said Young, a former board chairman during the COVID-19 pandemic. "We do not want to lose these parents' support."

Central Magnet students speak up: Tell school board members fall 2021 to require masks to help prevent spread of COVID-19 and schools closing

Commissioner Peay urges board to consider needs of Kittrell children

The board prior to the vote also heard from supporters of the project, including Central Magnet head baseball coach Jason Patterson.

"We're ready to have our own place," Patterson told the board.

Although known for serving high academic achievers, Central Magnet has had success with many sports teams and athletes since opening in 2010 in a building previously known as Central Middle, 1972-2010, and Central High School, 1950-1972.

Central touts students with 36 on ACT: High ACT scores to break ties for 4.0 grades

The board's decision includes spending $305,000 to improve fields for the Central Magnet teams, including for both softball teams and the middle school baseball team:

• The high school and middle school softball teams will play on fields at Buchanan Elementary that's southeast of the city;
• The middle school baseball team will play at a Kittrell Community Park that's east of downtown Murfreesboro, pending an agreement involving an old gym between school board and Rutherford County Conservation Board.

The board prior to the vote also heard from Rutherford County Commissioner Robert Peay Jr., who represents a district on the east side that includes the rural Kittrell community.

"The people of Kittrell want to make sure we have facilities for our children," Peay told the board.

'It’s a slap in the face': Rutherford's Kittrell community opposes P.E.A.Y. building name for building with combined fire and ambulance stations

Reach reporter Scott Broden with news tips or questions by emailing him at sbroden@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @ScottBroden. To support his work with The Daily News Journal, sign up for a digital subscription .

Project costs for Central Magnet ball fields

High school baseball team at Lascassas Elementary

• Storage building: $10,000
• Fence work: $25,000
• I nfield work and portable pitching mound: $10,000
• Scoreboard: $45,000
• Electrical work with district maintenance staff providing work: $25,000
• Lights and poles: Project costs will be part of board's budgeted plans for LED lighting

Middle school baseball team at Kittrell Community Park

• Storage building: $10,000
• Portable pitchers mound and infield work: $10,000
• Note: arrangement is pending agreement with Rutherford County Conservation Board involving old Kittrell gym

High school softball team at Buchanan Elementary

• Storage building: $10,000
• Infield work and bases: $10,000
• Rebuild electrical work with district maintenance staff providing labor: $25,000
• Scoreboard and controls: $45,000
• One set of bleachers: $25,000

Middle school softball team at Buchanan Elementary

• Infield work and bases: $15,000
• Fence repairs: $15,000
• One set of bleachers: $25,000

Total costs of the projects: $305,000

Source: Rutherford County Board of Education for Aug. 22, 2024 meeting

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Central Magnet baseball, softball teams win approval for fields: 'We're ready to have our own place'