NKW Little League Set To Unveil Retractable Roof Concept for 2018

Every spring, around the end of March, volunteers gather at Wilson Park, Signal Rock, and other baseball fields in North Kingstown for Field Day. Field Day is one of the most important dates on the North Kingstown Wickford Little League calendar. Fields need to be prepped for a very busy schedule of games starting just after Opening Day, April 7th. Sponsorship banners are raised. Dugouts are swept. Foul lines are chalked bright white. Players, coaches, managers, moms, and dad all pitch in to make each and every field safe and ready to play on.

This year's field day was especially exciting for the many volunteers who showed up to help with Field Day. Volunteers got to witness first hand the fruits of what most agree is the most innovative and progressive plan by a local Little League to get one over on Mother Nature. A plan that was hatched by the executive board in June of 2017, after witnessing one of the rainiest seasons our Little League had ever experienced. Due to the high number of rain outs during the 2017 Little League season and using scientific data to estimate this and future season's potential rain outs, the Executive Board of North Kingstown Wickford Little League unanimously approved, during double secret winter sessions, to install a retractable roof for each field.

These retractable roofs were unveiled yesterday during Field Day to an overwhelming roar of the crowd of players, coaches, and volunteers. Starting at the outfield fences, the roofs come up out of the ground and span the field in just 10 minutes time, a significant upgrade from the traditional retractable roofs at Major League stadiums. "We want to get the games played and the delays to be zero," stated one Executive Board member, who did not wish to reveal his identity as League VP of Marketing. Players stood on the mound as the massive roof, manufactured right here on Dry Bridge Rd in North Kingstown, made its way across the diamond, over the dugouts, and resting comfortably atop the backstop - therefore completely covering the field from any rain or snow or hail that Mother Nature would shower on the field.

One observer noticed that the roof did not cover the bleachers, where most fans, parents, and families sit during the games. A statement from the league office this morning read "Our budget only allowed for a retractable roof distance of about 300 feet. We hope that focus will remain on the kids and the game of baseball and not the fact that a little rain is landing on you, the fans. Fans who choose to watch the game in the rain are the truest fans after all." So, it looks like the fan experience will remain the same this season. "We encourage our fans to show our online store NKW Little League for the latest in rain gear, blankets, and more for this and future seasons to come," stated press agent, again who did not want to be named in this article. The League would not comment on how the roofs were paid for, although an unanimous source did reveal that the new proposed name of the newly merged Little League "Amazon's Awesome New North Kingstown Wickford Little League Experience" had no relevance to the roofs being installed.

See you next week for Opening Day and should it rain, you might see those fantastic roofs emerge from center field. If you are a player, you will be on the field and dry. Fans should expect to get soaked but we encourage you to shop our online store NKW Little League ahead of the ceremonies just in case.

Happy April Fools Day everyone from the press agent, Noel P. Roby, who did not want his identity to be known.