Mahanoy Area approves upgrades to softball dugouts
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - The softball dugout and spectator stand at the Mahanoy Area softball field on Feb. 24, 2023.
MAHANOY CITY – The Mahanoy Area School District approved a $135,000 project to replace the dugouts at the softball field and move the spectator stand.
The district approved the upgrades at Thursday night’s school board meeting.
The project was awarded to Bill Davis Cement Contractors, Mahanoy City, at a cost of $135,000.
New dugouts will be constructed and the spectator stand will be moved to the first baseline from the third baseline. Construction would begin after the 2023 season.
The spectator stand is currently inside the field fencing and would be moved outside.
Bids were requested for both the construction of new dugouts and the spectator stand, as well as two alternate bids, one for a safety fence and the other for mesh netting, both to protect spectators from foul balls from the baseball field.
The district considered the addition of the fence or netting because softball spectators will have their backs turned to the baseball field.
The fence bid came in at $34,000 and the netting at $32,000. Business Manager John Hurst said the mesh netting bid came in at twice what the district’s fencing contractor would charge for a similar project.
The school board voted unanimously to approve the dugout project itself, but voted 5-4 against the fence/netting, and will explore another option.
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