Organizers close to new batting cage for Toledo/Winlock baseball

Nate Vermilyea (left), Kevin Korpi (center) and Connor Vermilyea (right) remove fence posts to make room for a 36' X 72 foot batting cage that will be located between the football and baseball fields on the grounds of Toledo High School.

Toledo/Winlock Baseball is moving into the final stages of fundraising for a 36" x 72" batting cage as part of the Toledo High School athletic facilities. Over the weekend, volunteers broke ground and laid down rock to begin the process.

"We are the only school in the area without a batting cage," said Nate Vermilyea, a long-time volunteer in Toledo baseball circles. "There is a lot of excitement to get this in place."

The group started out with $6,000 but gained some real momentum with nearly $4,000 in donations in a recent month. The project is unique in that it features donors from both Winlock and Toledo. Winlock's Backfire Band featured two concert fundraisers along with contributions from the Toledo Lions Club and Mt. St. Helens Babe Ruth.

Aside from the high school program, Toledo/Winlock features nearly 150 kids in the Babe Ruth program and an additional 100 youngsters in the Toledo Little League program.

"That is the largest number of kids in the Babe Ruth program that we have had in the last 10 years," said Kevin Korpi, a volunteer operating equipment on the site Saturday.

Korpi also gave a nod to Tyler Rental who donated equipment, Barnes Construction and SLT Trucking in Toledo. Rock being laid down on Saturday was donated by "L Rock" of Toledo.

Korpi says that the project will cost about $30,000 in all and the group is seeking more assistance. For more information on how to support the batting cage, contact Korpi at (360) 880-2515.