Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 01:00 | Updated 01:28h.
Baseball is a sport with little implementation in Spain, although at a competitive level, the national team is the third European power. In the Region of Murcia it is no different, although in recent years the number of federative licenses has increased. There are currently around 400, according to a spokesperson for the Murcia Baseball and Softball Federation, who adds that this increase in practicing this sporting discipline collides with the lack of adequate facilities.
The general director of Sports, Fran Sánchez, yesterday visited the Torrealta baseball field, Molina de Segura district, to check and examine the state of the rehabilitation works, for which the Regional Government allocated last month of July 150,000 euros.
The rehabilitation, which has a total budget of 311,550 euros and which was started four months ago by the Molinese city council, includes a complete renovation of the changing room module, in which the roof and exterior doors will be replaced, the finishes will be renewed interiors and windows, as well as the façade with a single-layer mortar finish. Additionally, surrounding sidewalks will be repaired to improve accessibility.
The Regional Government has allocated 150,000 euros for the improvement of the Torrealta field
On the playing field, which currently has a dirt pavement, synthetic artificial grass made of polyethylene fiber on a bituminous base will be installed. Additionally, a three-story prefabricated concrete stand will be built, which will allow greater capacity for spectators and improve the experience of baseball fans. These works, “although they will greatly improve the field”, will still not leave the facilities in conditions to meet the demands of Hispaniola to be able to host Honor Division matches, which is the great objective for the future.
Remodeling and expansion
The Molina de Segura City Council already carried out work to remodel and expand the field two years ago, which involved an investment of more than 40,000 euros. The five teams that make up CB de Molina play their games at the facilities.
Improvement work at the Torrealta baseball field, yesterday.
Vicente Vicéns/ AGM
Regional baseball has seven federated teams, more than ever, that play in First National: CB Puerto Lumbreras, Astros Lorca, CB Lorca, CB Molina, Estrellas Negras de Algezares, Severo Ochoa de Los Garres and Diamond Play de Alcantarilla. “We have more teams and competitions than facilities,” says a spokesperson for the Regional Federation, who adds that teams from Andalusia (Almería) and the Valencian Community (Benidorm and San Vicente) also play in the Region. Distributing so much equipment across the two fields in the Region (Molina and Algezares) becomes a puzzle when it comes to scheduling schedules for the use of the facilities.
Foreign contribution
Immigrants from countries such as Cuba, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico have contributed greatly to this baseball boom in the Region of Murcia, where due to the proximity and greater influence of the United States they were already hitting a ball with a bat before arriving in Spain. .
The good moment that this sport is experiencing in the Region collides with the lack of adequate facilities. The investment approved for the improvement of the Torrealta field, which is still far away, clashes with the apparent little interest shown by the Murcia City Council in requesting help to improve the Algezares field, where Estrellas Negras plays, the dean of regional baseball that Next year he turns 50 years old. It is one of the ten oldest and most respected clubs in Spain. Since its founding it has competed uninterruptedly.
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