MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The University High School baseball field project has picked up additional financial support.
State Senators Mike Oliverio and Charles Clements presented a check for $25,000 at a Friday afternoon ceremony on the UHS campus.
Oliverio, R-Monongalia, said the new support would help get he project “around the bases and home.”
“We think the way we can help is some funding now and some funding after July 1, when we get into a new fiscal year,” Oliverio said. “But, maybe more than anything else, we can help by appealing to donors to support this project.”
The money comes from an economic development assistance grant.
Clements, R-Wetzel, said the project will support the development of many top high school athletes.
“University High School has a soft spot in my heart,” Clements, who used to referee football games, said. “I’m tickled to death to see what you have today. I’m tickled to death to see your vision for the future, and it’s the people of the community that will make this happen—you deserve it, and you’ve earned it.”
Sports Complex at UHS Committee Co-Chair Heidi Metheny believes the fields will offer several benefits for the school and increase participation. No longer will teams have the 25-minute drive and traffic to get to Mylan Park for games, and that may increase participation. But the University High School has never had spring sports facilities, and this will increase fan support and school pride.
“It will open up opportunity for P.E. classes to come out to use the fields; it will increase participation and school spirit—all of the important things,” Matheny said.
It will take an estimated $4,850,000 to complete the field, and the group is focused on closing a gap of $300,000 in order to qualify for a $2 million match from the Monongalia County Board of Education.
Major donors to date have included a $1 million contribution from Nancy Pride Raley, the sister of UHS Athletic Hall of Famer Ronald “Duke” Pride; an anonymous contribution of $125,000 in commemoration of the 2024 University High School Softball Team that won the WVSSAC State Championship; and a $250,000 contribution from former Major League Baseball player Jedd Gyorko and his family. Metheny said the match offer from the BOE was a major incentive for donors.
“We’re close, so I plead with folks to donate $5, $10, $15, or $20; every donation helps us get towards that goal,” Matheny said.
UHS Player Max Cash said when the fields are complete, he looks forward to more time playing and less time traveling. Cash said the 25-minute drive to Mylan Park can be much longer at times due to traffic, and that’s time not spent getting better.
“I think it will attract more people out to play, and we will have a better turnout,” Cash said.