The Brookline park where the Little Guys Baseball Club and Springfield Metro Baseball organizations play is undergoing an expansion effort.
A Jan. 12 informational and fundraising luncheon is scheduled at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for the Bill Virdon Sports Complex, 5484 W. Sunshine St. Springfield Metro Baseball Director Rob Ginocchio said the event would kick off fundraising for the project with an estimated price tag of $1.5 million. The complex is owned by Little Guys Baseball, a nonprofit run by Travis Zarechi.
In May last year, Barnhouse Field was renamed the Bill Virdon Sports Complex in honor of the Springfield resident, former Major League Baseball centerfielder and 1960 World Series champion. That’s also the month Little Guys Baseball began operations at the field, according to Springfield
Business Journal archives.
“I thought it would be a nice tribute to him,” Ginocchio said of adding Virdon’s name to the complex. “Of course, the second benefit would be for Travis to get extra attention to the ballpark and generate a second revenue stream through donations.”
Officials with Little Guys Baseball and Springfield Metro Baseball are planning several new features after a fall site analysis by Sapp Design Associates Architects PC.
Ginocchio, whose league rents the field at Bill Virdon Sports Complex, said project plans include:
• a new, retro-themed field east of the existing park;
• an indoor, 25,000-square-foot training center;
• seating for more than 600 people;
• lighting for night games; and
• a concession area.
