Year in Preview: New baseball fields to open for spring season

Chelsea is about to have access to three new baseball and softball fields. 

The Chelsea Sports Complex off Shelby County 11 near the high school includes three fields, six batting cages, a concession stand, a walking trail and other amenities.

When the fields were planned, distance to the fence and the configuration of bases were set up to allow a large age range on the fields, said Chelsea City Councilman David Ingram. 

Baseball and softball players ranging from 3 to 12 years old will be able to play on the fields. Planning for the fields started several years ago, and Ingram said he is proud they will finally open.

“First and foremost, it brings a facility to the community that we can be proud of,” Ingram said. The city’s current ball fields on County 39 are a bit older, Ingram added, and have some drawbacks.

The new sports complex opening in time for the spring season means they will be open in mid-February, just in time to accommodate a larger-than-ever travel ball organization.

“We typically have 40-50 teams just in our park league alone, and up to around 450-470 kids participating,” Ingram said. “In addition to that, we have a Chelsea-based travel ball organization, the Chelsea Baseball Club, and we’re going to have more teams in the Chelsea Baseball Club than we’ve ever had before.” 

The high number of baseball players, in addition to the softball teams that will also be able to play on the new fields, means Ingram expects the park to stay busy.

“There should not be an empty field in Chelsea on a weekend in the spring,” he said. “That’s going to be my goal, is to fill every field up from March to next July.”