The Wilson Post
LEBANON WEATHER

Wilson Central’s field is ready to go




The mangled outfield fence at Wilson Central following the May 4 straight line windsWC Schools

The mangled outfield fence at Wilson Central following the May 4 straight line windsWC Schools

DII-AA tournament opens Tuesday

GLADEVILLE – Slowly, but surely things are back in place at Wilson Central High’s baseball field, site of the Division II-AA state championships which crank up Tuesday and run through Friday.

One of the very few Spring Fling venues located outside Rutherford County, Coach Anthony Ford‘s pride and joy has sprung back to life following straight line winds that heavily damaged the complex back on May 4.

“It’s been something,” Ford said last week as the finishing touches were being applied to a replacement scoreboard.

“Our county’s maintenance staff has done an outstanding job. Right after the storm came through they were up here within hours cutting trees off our fence, getting things cleaned up so we could get back in here and work a little bit.

“They got in contact with Baird Fencing who got the new outfield fence up within about five days. It ought to be pretty sturdy – they used 6×6 poles in concrete with 2×6 runners.

The recently repaired outfield fence at Wilson CentralTommy Bryan

The recently repaired outfield fence at Wilson CentralTommy Bryan

Jeff Hamblin with Middle Tennessee Scoreboards got us hooked up with a replacement scoreboard, so once we got up all the debris, you really can’t tell the field was ever damaged.”

After missing the opportunity to host the Division II-AA championships in 2020 due to COVID-19, Ford is certainly pleased to have a big fundraiser back on his campus.

“Hosting the DII tournament is a huge deal for us,” Ford said. “We get all the money from parking, all the concessions and $1 from every ticket sold through GoFan. Making that kind of money will help us get through the summer.

“We’ve been very lucky. A lot of people jumped in and helped us and the TSSAA was patient as we tried to get this thing done and be able to host the state tournament.”

Wilson Central had reaped an added bonus for the 2021 tournament with the scheduling of the championship game on Friday.

Under normal circumstances, all the championship games would be played at Reece Smith Jr. Field on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University,

A new scoreboard is in place at Wilson Central HighTommy Bryan

A new scoreboard is in place at Wilson Central HighTommy Bryan

Due to MTSU’s COVID-19 protocols, the satellite sites will host the 2021 finals.

“That’s another shot in the arm for our program,” Ford said. “That’s another day of parking, ticket and concessions sales. We need it.”

Here’s Tuesday’s schedule at Wilson Central: Briarcrest (28-5) v. McCallie (20-9) at 4 pm, followed by Baylor (23-3) v. Brentwood Academy (15-11-1) at 6:30 pm.

TICKETS & PARKING – No tickets will be sold on site. Tickets are available for $12 each via GoFan.

Parking is $5 per vehicle.

The old scoreboard at WCHS after the May 4 stormWilson County Schools

The old scoreboard at WCHS after the May 4 stormWilson County Schools

Wilson Central head coach Anthony FordTommy Bryan

Wilson Central head coach Anthony FordTommy Bryan

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