Westfield Baseball Celebrates Opening Day

Not only is it opening for Westfield Baseball players, it's opening day for Gumbert Field as well. After receiving a $100,000 facelift, Gumbert 1, 2 and 3 are ready for action. 

Dan Duffy, president of Westfield Baseball, said the organization and the Town of Westfield joined forces to make the three ballparks safer and more aesthetically appealing for players and neighborhood residents. The culmination of months of hardwork will be celebrated today when the fields are officially unveiled. 

"Our opening day parade will start at at 9," Duffy said. "From there, the league walks to the Gumbert complex located at the end of South Chestnut Avenue. At 12:30 on Gumbert 1 we will be having a ribbon cutting ceremony to open the newly renovated fields. Mayor Andy Skibitsky will be throwing out the first pitch before our first game which starts at 1."

Duffy said the renovations included rebuilding the pitcher's mounds and batter's boxes as well as hanging blue windscreening that reads "Westfield Baseball" and "Blue Devils." The fields, complete with working scoreboards and refurbished dugouts, were aerated and reseeded.

A 16-foot-high fence was installed to protect children on the playground and a house down the right-field line from being struck by stray baseballs. 

"We're really happy with how it turned out," Duffy said. 

Have some photos of opening day you'd like to share? Send them to liz.alterman@patch.com or upload them to our neighborhood gallery.