By Casey Neill
Baseball players and spectators will soon see the light in Dandenong.
Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams announced a $100,000 State Government boost for new floodlighting at Robert Booth Reserve on Wednesday 24 January.
She and Greater Dandenong Mayor Youhorn Chea made ceremonial pitches before that night’s match.
The plan is to light up the main baseball diamond at the Clow Street reserve, which is home to the Dandenong Angels and Mulgrave Rebels baseball clubs.
Mulgrave Rebels president Nick Thompson said the lighting would allow “more effective training and games to occur during low-light times”.
“We also hope that this will open up the sport to newcomers and spectators as baseball under lighting is fantastic to see and participate in,” he said.
“The facility will also be the only baseball facility in Melbourne’s South-East region with full field lighting, as such there are major opportunities for tournaments and high level games to be held.”
He said the lighting proposal was with Greater Dandenong Council so the timing was to be confirmed.
“Our best guess would be completion in 2019,” he said.
“This project has been discussed and promoted for many years, with some tentative plans seen as far back as 10 years ago.
“However, this project was raised again during the current rebuild of the pavilion at Robert Booth Reserve.”
Mr Thompson said the Rebels had gone through a significant rebuild in the past three years.
“The club has increased from 25 members to over 100, including both women’s and little league sides,” he said.
“In summer the Mulgrave Baseball Club uses the ground almost every day.
“Our veterans play on Monday nights, training through the week, women’s on Saturday and our main competition day of Sunday.”
Angels president Scott Pepper said the club had more than 120 members.
“This number increases slightly each year but with the new pavilion under way and the new lights on the horizon we expect that number to increase dramatically in the coming years,” he said.
“Being a winter club we rely heavily on lighting to help us train.
“The current set up is far from adequate and this will add a whole new dimension to the club.”
