Thanks to everyone who took part in the Foresters’ Field Announcement Ceremony on Friday, April 28. Pershing Park glistened under a beautiful sun with the hills providing the perfect backdrop.
Bill Pintard welcomed the people attending and thanked the many people involved in making this dream come true, including Jill Zachary and Rich Hanna and Rob Morales of City Parks and Rec; Anthony Beebe, Ellen O’Connor, and Jeff Walker (and many others) of SB City College; Major League Softball; the Foresters board; and of course our fans. He said the team is looking forward to the challenge on and off the field.
Zachary spoke about the importance of recreation in general and about the beauty and new usefulness of Pershing Park in particular. She was excited to bring baseball to this great park all summer.
Assemblywoman Monique Limon shared her memories of being an SBCC student and watching her brother play ball here! She praised the entire community for coming together as one to make this baseball dream come true. Wrigley has the ivy, Fenway has the Green Monster, and the Foresters have the unmatched Santa Barbara waterfront.
SBCC president Anthony Beebe welcomed the Foresters to the Vaqueros’ home field and spoke about the great teamwork that went into making this event happen. He praised city officials and his own staff for their super work, noting particularly the work of SB City Administrator Paul Casey.
Randy Rowse, SB City Councilman for the First District that includes SBCC, spoke about how much this would help make Pershing Park a new destination. He also commented on the wonderful cooperation among so many different people to make this all happen and that he looked forward to sitting in the stands to cheer for the ‘Sters!
Judge George Eskins read a very funny and grateful note from State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, in which she echoed others’ joy at seeing the Foresters in their new home and expressing her hope that she’d be invited back for a “first-strike first-pitch” ceremony! (Warm up your arm, Senator!)
Bill introduced a special guest, former Parks and Rec Director Bill Bertka, who spoke movingly about his memories of what Pershing Park and the city baseball fields used to be, and about how pleased he was to see this long-dreamed-of vision come to fruition.
Fans and visitors picked up schedules and posters and posed for photos on our new field. Opening Day (at home) is June 9 at 6 pm. Watch this space for more news coming soon!
(Left to right) Bill Bertka, Parks and Rec’s Rich Hanna, Foresters board president Christina Songer, SB City Administrator Paul Casey, Judge George Eskin, City Councilmember Frank Hotchkiss, Bill Pintard, Assemblywoman Monique Limon, City Councilman Gregg Hart, SBCC President Anthony Beebe, and City Councilman Randy Rowse
