Time to set up camp at Sportsplex

If the Blytheville Baseball/Softball Boosters really want to make some money, they ought to consider putting up some small cabanas or villas around the lakes near the Sportsplex.

I know I'd be interested in buying one. After all, the way it looks, I'll pretty much be living out at the Sportsplex until late June.

With 7-year-old Drew playing Rookie League baseball, and 10-year-old Katie playing 10-and-under softball, we're keeping pretty busy these days. In fact, over the next 45 weekdays, we have games scheduled for 27 of them. And on six of those days, we actually have two games on the calendar.

(Somehow, miraculously, we managed to avoid ever having both kids scheduled to play at the same time for this year. This means you won't find me perched at the back of the bleachers, looking from field to field, attempting to watch two games at the same time.)

When you add in the practices for the various teams, it's not uncommon for us to be at the Sportplex at least four nights a week during baseball season.

And when you factor in the days spent on the soccer pitch during the fall, you can see why we'd be interested in having a place to sleep, relax and maybe cook a small meal in the immediate vicinity of the Sportsplex. No doubt others could benefit as well.

Seriously, though, our family thoroughly enjoys nights at the Sportsplex. It can't be said or written enough what a fantastic facility we have here in Blytheville for our youth and their families to take advantage of. I have had the chance to visit baseball fields in other communities over the past couple of years, and Blytheville's facility is the nicest, and it's not even close.

Though it may sound like I'm complaining about spending so much of my time at the Sportsplex, the truth is, there's not too many places where I'd rather spend a warm Delta evening. Sitting just outside the fence in the lawn chair, drinking a cold soda, with the smell of hot dogs and burgers in the air, listening to parents cheer for their children, seeing the pure joy on a young person's face as he or she crosses home plate — it just doesn't get much better than that.

There's more than baseball and softball to enjoy at the Sportsplex. There are always adults using the nearby walking trail — some running, some strolling, some taking a dog for a walk. Other folks can be seen along the banks of the lake, fishing lines awaiting a bite. Grownups and kids alike can be seen smiling and chatting along the sidewalks, in the bleachers or near the concession stand.

After a hotly-contested exhibition baseball game last week, I saw two players from opposing teams meet up behind the backstop. One patted the other on the back, as if to say, "Good game, buddy." And off they went, no doubt to watch some other friends play, or perhaps to grab some barbecue nachos from the concession stand — the competiveness of their recent contest quickly overtaken by enduring friendship.

Everyone ought to check out a night at the Blytheville ballpark. It's one of those things that will make you feel really good about where you live. There's no doubt that our community has some good things and some bad things going for it, but when it comes to the Youth Sportplex, this is one time where Blytheville got it right.