November 8, 2019 Issue, Page 18 of 18

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Page 16 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Friday, November 8, 2019 Cross Canute, Elk City place players on fast-pitch honor lists Country By Don Munsch, Editor Canute High School had Mention Faylor, Strain and Elliott tournament,” Canute coach Bryne Binghom said. District Catcher; and Mikah Butler and Shailee Ross, All- baseman Jordyn Garrett and five players who made All- were eligible for All-State. The Trojanettes finished District Honorable Mention. first baseman Allison Justus Banquet Region this fall. They are: Madison Faylor, catcher Faylor made All-State from the Oklahoma Fast-Pitch the season 30-7 after losing to Fairland in the state tour- The Elkettes finished the season 13-15 and missed the made honorable mention. The Elk City High P Strain, pitcher Coaches Association. ney. playoffs. School cross-country team Brianna Elliott, utility “Well deserved honor for For Elk City, All-District And at Merritt, for All- will have its banquet at 7 Baylee Waggoner, honor- five great seniors who ended honors went to Danni Sot- District, Jo Thomas made The Oilerettes finished 10- p.m. Tuesday at the ECHS able mention up with 101 career wins and tile, Defensive Player of the first team utility, while pitch- commons. Haley Schreck, Honorable two trips to fast pitch state District; Abby Robbins, All- er Danni Dobbins, second 20 and missed the playoffs. Turf company official discusses work in Elk City By Don Munsch, Editor David Fisher calls his company’s work in Elk City the largest turf project to date it has had in Oklahoma. In October, Elk City City Commissioners approved the city purchasing synthetic turf for ballfields at the Soft- ball 5-Plex, Baseball 5-Plex and the Ackley Park base- ball stadium. Commission- ers unanimously approved the bid of $5,499,000 to Hellas Construction Inc., based in Austin, Texas. Fisher, business develop- ment director for Hellas, spoke about the turf project last week at the Elk City Rotary Club meeting. His company has fields in all 50 states, His company has worked with NFL teams and colleges and school dis- tricts. City Manager Lee Lit- terell said last month Hellas met the city’s specs for what them to have synthetic turf installed, including here at the softball it wanted in the turf, and determining factors in the fields at the 5-Plex. Staff photos by Don Munsch. company being awarded the contract. were experience and design, price, synthetic play five minutes after rains right. end, but you have to look his company’s turf tries to should attract people who turf systems and warranty. stop, he said, as the drainage Fisher said his fields have past one 10-year life cycle,” offset that situation by get- Three other companies sub- prevents pooling or puddling an average of 10.8 years of Fisher said. ting the pellets way down in- want to have tournaments mitted bids, according to as water never builds up. life. Weather and usage can city information. “Tt just makes it so much affect the life span. The synthetic fields are side the grass and not close A city agenda memo stat- better for playing,” Fisher “We feel like if we don’t hotter than natural grass by to the top. here. ed the money for the fields said, noting that the synthet- build a piece of turf that will a few degrees because of the There haven't been any would pay for 685,066 ic turf offers consistency and last a minimum of 10 years, black rubber pellets inside safety issues with the infill “You'll have to beat them square feet of synthetic turf is resistant to bad hops that we've not done you a very the turf, as Fisher explained in the turf, Fisher said. on five softball fields, five can plaque infielders. It can good service,” he said. “Ev- they absorb the sunlight. But Fisher said the fields off with a stick,” he said. baseball fields, six T-ball reduce injuries, too. erything we build is built fields and Ackley baseball Fisher said his company to last. A warranty on these park and construct new T- will contract with local com- fields is eight years, and so balls fields at the baseball panies, such as for concrete. think about that: What other complex complete with “We try to help the econo- product do you purchase in three bleacher stands and my of the community we’re your life that for 80 percent six dugouts with fencing in with materials that need to of its life is under warranty? and concrete slabs and new be purchased locally,” Fisher Acar is not that way, a house sidewalks. Community Ac- said. is not that way, jewelry is tion Project Plans money He said the company has not that way. I don’t know of will pay for the fields’ turf. a contract deadline of March anything that is 80 percent of City officials said the 1, but the company is confi- its life.” newly turfed fields mean the dent, barring extremely bad He hopes that every field city would have an opportu- weather, that it can be ahead will get a minimum of 10 nity to draw numerous tour- of schedule. years of life, and he said naments while cutting the “We hope to have it done some fields can go 11 to amount of money spent on before [March 1],” he said, 12 years. But maintenance field maintenance. Litterell noting he wants the high workers must be mindful of said the city spends around school baseball field and looking after fields. $190,000 to $200,000 a slow-pitch softball fields Fisher explained that when year on field maintenance. done as soon as possible, or turf is replaced years into the In addition, the turf willbe the first fields done. future, there’s no dirt work, help ensure the city does As far as maintenance, all drainage or other kind of rel- not have to contend with the fields will have groomers evant work needed except rain-outs, as they hardly for the turf. Once a week dur- regrading of the base with a happen with his company’s ing the season, the groomer laser, turf, Fisher said. While can be used to maintain the “You're saving this com- lightning can prevent teams fields, as it redistributes the munity thousands upon from playing, teams can infill and keeps the fibers up- thousands of dollars in the Super Saturday in Elk City for Kids Inc. football By Casey Lantz, Contrib- quarter. Red team quarter- fin handed off to Hezekiah ber 21st, join million uting Writer back Griffin Carter handed Hall deep in their own ter- lives ¢ Kids Inc. held their annual off to Hezekiah Hull for theritory and Hull made some tackle football champion- two-point conversion, but good moves, made several ship game Saturday at Big was stopped short of the guys miss, and sped down Elk Stadium. goal line. The red team got ‘Whether it's y ce ee teaie theOklahoma More than 70 fifth and on the board again with a the field for 93-yard touch- down run bringing the score eee fetecents hing, text sixth graders took to the 66-yard touchdown run by to 18-0. tches, gum field Saturday to determine Hull, but the purple team After forcing a fumble on aang AW or tbc who would be the tackle again stopped them on the defense, the red team looked football champion. two point conversion. to put the nail in the coffin, The fifth and sixth grade The purple team got a couple impressive defensive and tackle football Super Bowl that’s just what they did when Griffin hit Hull for a championship was played stops, showing good pursuit 4l-yard touchdown pass. | Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline ) between the red team and and good tackling. But the the purple team. The red purple team continued to The two point conversion team dominated playing struggle offensively against was good this time, which stingy defense, and was of- a good red team defense, brought us to the final score 1-800-784-8669 OKhelpline.com fensively bolstered by sev- and couldn’t quite find its of 26-0. eral long runs, Red team rhythm. Purple team run- “Our boys played good, running back Hezekiah Hall and I am super proud of ning back Isaiah Lopez had had a few big runs on the several big runs throughout them,” said red team coach morning. The first was a 76- the game, but was unable to Chris Seay, “Everybody yard touchdown run in the find the end zone. Red team played hard and gave good early moments of the first quarterback Carter Grif effort.”