Wireless scoreboards light up Glenboro ball diamonds In Memory of Gail Hamilton
Glenboro’s ball diamonds have a new look this summer, with brand-new wireless scoreboards now mounted at both the softball diamond and the main baseball diamond, S.A. Oleson Field.
The project, a year in the making, fell into place quickly once funding was in place. It is the result of a community effort that volunteer Robert Gudnason says came together faster than he expected.
“I had priced it out a while back, but it was cost prohibitive,” Gudnason said. “So it wasn’t at the top of my list of priorities yet.”
That changed last year when longtime community member Albert Hamilton approached Gudnason and mentioned his idea of giving a sizable donation to fund scoreboards.
“Trent’s (Albert’s son) daughter Leah plays a lot of ball, and we have travelled all over watching her. Often we don’t know the score or what
inning they are playing or how many out. While some parks do have score boards it made me think we should get one for Glenboro as we have such perfect diamonds.”
That, and wanting to donate something in memory of his late wife, Gail, inspired him to bring his idea to his three sons who all agreed.
He offered $15,000 last fall to get the project started, with a promise of another $15,000 the following spring.
“I’m very good at doubling,” Gudnason said. “Whatever you give me for seed money, usually I can find more by applying to other funders.”
And that’s exactly what happened. On top of the initial $30,000, Glenboro Minor Ball secured:
• $10,000 from the Brandon Area Foundation
• $10,000 through Grow Glenboro
• $7,500 from the Glenboro Foundation
• $3,000 from the municipality
In total, the project drew roughly $60,500 in community and grant support; money that covered the scoreboards themselves, poles, concrete foundations and installation.
Wireless and Dugout Controlled
The two new scoreboards, supplied by Nevco Signs, are fully wireless. Scorekeepers, including parent volunteers are able to update the score right from the dugout using a handheld remote, rather than manually changing numbers on the board.
The poles were supplied at a discounted community rate by Phiber Manufacturing in Crystal City. Kevin Scholdice donated his time and equipment to dig the holes and pour the concrete piers that anchor them; work Gudnason was quick to credit.
“He’s unbelievable at the amount of labour he’s donated out at that ball diamond for nothing,” Gudnason said. “He needs a lot of credit for sure.”
Welder, Wyatt Van Damme was hired to fabricate and install the mounting brackets. The scoreboards themselves went up on a single long day of work, with Corey Forbes, Corey Feschuk, Regan Richmond and Van Damme handling the installation. Steve Nelson donated the use of his telehandler for the job, and Steve Bjornson donated the use of his boom bucket to give the crew somewhere to work from.
“It turned out really, really well,” Gudnason said.
Power is still to ComeThe scoreboards are up, but not yet lit; Spruce View Electric (Real Vallotton) is expected to trench power to both boards in the coming weeks to get them fully operational.
Once complete, the project will mark a new chapter for the diamonds, one Gudnason suspects a longtime supporter of Glenboro ball would have appreciated.
“I’m pretty sure old Stan Oleson would have been smiling,” he said.
