Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe renovating softball field

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Years in the making, women from the Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe club have renovated the softball field for the community to enjoy. Two of the three sets of bleachers are in, the Soroptimist Stadium scoreboard is up, new fences are in place, new benches are installed, and new soil and sod are now in the infield and outfield.

The club is making a $325,000 investment in the girls of the community with a softball field to be proud of. Brooke Laine, the project lead, said South Lake Tahoe will be seen as a community where girls are valued.

The South Tahoe High Junior Varsity Softball Team was the first organized group to use the newly improved field adjacent to South Tahoe Middle School. The team played their first game of the season at Soroptimist Stadium: Home of Girls Softball on Saturday, March 26. Over 100 people were in attendance for the inaugural game.

The Soroptimist club members said they have been receiving great feedback and parents and players are impressed with the drastic improvement with the new soil and sod.

Dugouts are planned but the club is waiting on approval from the Division of State Architects (DSA) before they can start constructing them.

Soroptimists said they started the project because the boys' fields had good soils, bleachers, scoreboards and dugouts, things they have enjoyed for years. During the same time the girls' field was dusty, old, and not Title 9 compliant.

In order for the girls could have a nice place to play, Soroptimist Stadium became a project. This was the first time they've taken on a project 100 percent from inception to fruition, the club said.

They have received support from the community to help get the project completed. South Tahoe Refuse took the old backstop and fences, Steve Weiss has been a big help through the years of planning they've gone through, and contractor Dave Galicia has donated much of his time. The club said every vendor they have utilized has discounted or donated their fees.

To date, $182,000 has been spent on Soroptimist Stadium. After DSA approves the dugout permit, they will be built as will a water refill station, warm-up area, erosian control and vegetation, a public address system, and that third set of bleachers. The current parking lot between the Babe Ruth field and Soroptimist Stadium will be rennovated and it will be solely used as a dropoff lane.

Down the road, Phase 2 will include a scoring booth and concession booth.

The new field will also be used by adult softball leagues, and future events and tournaments are possible.

On May 21 there will be a kickoff of the softball season with High Sierra Softball demonstrations.

With future costs and DSA fees unknown, the club is seeking donations from those in the community interested in supported the project. To date they have received six grants to get to this point. To donate, or for more information, visit https://www.sislt.org/softball-field/.

Members in the photo above: L-R: Rose Marie Ottman, Vicki Gonzales, Brooke Laine, Cheryl Chambers, and Carolyn MacRae.