If all goes as planned, Bridgeport High School’s baseball team will be able to celebrate two openings Monday. The first opening is the standard home-opening game to the 2015 season as Preston visits for a 5 p.m. contest.

 

The second opening is something just a bit more unique. Barring interference by Mother Nature to postpone the game or in relation to the second opening, BHS will unveil its new $75,000-plus press box and multi-purpose facility.

 

“It looks beautiful,” said long-time Coach Robert Shields, who was actually leading the team when the previous building was constructed in 1989. “This is really state-of-the-art. We knew it was needed and a long-time coming, but I’m just blown away by it because it exceeds what a lot of smaller colleges and universities may have on campus.”

 

Although finishing touches were being taken care of this weekend, Shields likely has a point. The new building covers roughly 2,000 square feet over two stories and has multiple amenities that weren’t previously available. Some of the items will still be worked on as the season gets going at home.

 

“The concession area and the press box will be ready to go, as well as the restroom facilities,” said Shields. “As long as the weather cooperates, nearly everything should be completed by Monday. What’s amazing to me is that I probably would have been happy just to see the restrooms upgraded, let alone this. Instead of bathrooms, we ended up getting it all, or at least as close to everything as I could imagine.”

 

The previous structure that served the field and the community for decades was not only showing signs of age, but had been outgrown. Now, there should be plenty of space not only for concessions, but for the other items that the old building was stuffed with and much more.

There is space for materials and equipment. There is a changing room for the umpires. There is also an office area for Shields and the media area will be top of the line. Shields said areas are separated to allow for the public address announcer, radio crews and print media to have their own areas.

 

“People need to come see it because I know I’m not describing everything,” said Shields. “There’s just so much that goes on right now, including upgrading our field and handling basic maintenance, that it’s been overwhelming. I can honestly say it’s overwhelming in the best way possible.”

 

The project has been spearheaded by local Bridgeport businessman Paul Smith, said Shields. Plenty of workers have come in to get the project near completion on a short time frame.

 

Along with Smith’s assistance, funds have come from school facility money. He also said the City of Bridgeport assisted with a sanitary sewage issue that needed addressed.

 

“This really adds a nice touch to the complex,” said Shields. “I don’t know what we’ll do next, but I’m sure we’ll find something. This, though, is going to be hard to top.”

 

Editor's Note: Several views of work taking place earlier this week of the new BHS baseball press box and multi-use building. More photos in the gallery below.