Salem Softball Hopes to Upgrade Field, Will Host Fundraiser Saturday

The Salem Softball League will host a fundraiser this Saturday in conjunction with Gateway Resource Recovery.

According to Brett Grande, president of Salem Softball, members of the league will collect scrap metal in the back parking lot of Woodbury Middle School.

The collection will include metal fencing, washing machines, dryers, sheet metal, pipes, old PC's, keyboards and circuit boards.

He said that A/C units, refrigerators, engines, transmissions or anything with oil or chemicals will not be accepted.

"Gateway has agreed to deliver and pickup a dumpster for us and give us 100 percent of all we collect," Grande said. "This is a great opportunity for people to get rid of the old junk they have had laying around, and help out a non-profit youth league in town.

A car wash for donations will also be offered at the same time, with players and parents volunteering.

According to Grande, the current board of directors for the league just took over less than a month ago, including himself.

The goal is to raise money through various fundraisers. Grande said that the league's home, Bryan Field (behind Woodbury School), could use a facelift.

"The scoreboard only partially works. The lighting is in need of updating as some of the lights are facing the wrong way due to the support boards twisting and splitting from age. The blockhouse has boards rotting and the dugouts need new roofs. We would love to team up with local businesses to help fund some of the projects but, we also need to raise money to try and do it on our own."

This Saturday's event will take place from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.