By Kim J. Harmon

After spending one year on the road, the nomadic Newtown High School baseball team couldn’t have been happier when its new field opened up two years ago. But right from the start the Nighthawks were looking for more.

“Our thought was,” said head coach Carl Strait, “this is a beautiful field. What can we do to make it even better?”

That question was answered recently when the baseball team received Board of Education approval to build two dugouts.

The first shovel-full of dirt was expected to be turned over this week. With the wood arriving next week and the concrete hopefully poured soon after, the team – with two weekends of work – has its sights set on completing the project by the end of the month.

The idea was first broached by FJ Urso. From there, Mr Urso and coach Strait sought approval from athletic director Gregg Simon and construction suggestions from school buildings and grounds supervisor Dom Posca and Parks and Recreation assistant director Carl Samuelsson.

The next step was the Board of Education seal of approval.

“They were very enthusiastic about the project,” said coach Strait, who soon after had the paperwork filed and the building permits in his hand.

The project is expected to cost a little more than $12,000 – but that is with generous donations of materials and money from 7-D Wholesale Lumber, Sega Concrete, Newtown Babe Ruth Baseball and Coaches’ Deli and the volunteer work force. A project like this, if contracted out, could cost $30,000 to $40,000.

“The kids have been working really hard on raising money for this,” said coach Strait. “We have a lot of letters going out to friends and community organizations. It’s a complete team effort and a real nice way to bring baseball back to Newtown.”

Anyone wishing to make donations to the project can send checks to Newtown Youth Baseball Association (NYBA), c/o Nanavaty, Nanavaty & Davenport, P.O. Box 527, Newtown, Ct., 06470. In the memo line, include the word ‘dugouts.’