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By Rick Assad
It’s something relatively simple but it changes the dynamics of a softball game by its mere presence. And it’s been a long time.
It’s a portable fence outside Olive Park that Providence High bought for $4,500 and will allow Burroughs to use it in the absence of the Pioneers.
Burroughs hopes to get his own portable fence in the future but is installing a bullpen fence instead.
“Having a fence is like having a softball field. Without the fence, you’re just playing softball on a field,” said Providence coach Manny Travieso. , we haven’t gotten a bullpen fence yet. This is something we will discuss in the near future. “
Travieso said a fence would be legitimate on a ball that was hit hard instead of past the outfielder.
“Besides making it a real softball field, a player can hit it, get his run hit and get the home run he deserves, just like a real softball field,” he said. “We’ve had opposing teams that were okay with it being a home run because the out is 275 feet away. It’s just part of the game as the bases.
Doug Nicol is Burroughs’ longtime softball coach and also said an outfield fence makes the field legitimate.
“Right now, we’re doing a joint venture with Providence. However, the plan is to get our own fence next year and use it for all our games,” he said. “I’m not sure when.” It will be finished and when we can put it in place, but hopefully before the end of this season.”
Burroughs put up a bullpen fence as the first step.
“Getting bullpens is important, from a practical development standpoint, and a safety standpoint,” Nicol said. “Now we can focus our pitcher/catcher sessions and get the most out of our workouts, as well as keep our players safe during games.”
Likewise, Nicol also felt that a fence made a well-hit ball a real homer.
“The game really only has a fence. We play 80 percent of our games with a fence and it rewards the players for doing things right,” he said. “Also, CIF playoff games should to be played in the fields with the fences of the more advanced. Last year, we had to move our CIF semifinal game to another facility because we didn’t have a fence. When it comes to our fence, we shouldn’t issue that anymore.”
Nicol added: “At the end of the day, all baseball and softball games in legitimate facilities are played on fields with fences,” he said. “Women can hit home runs and double gap doubles and not roll forever for home runs. It just keeps the game more true to the way it should be played. “
Getting a fence is not easy and it takes a lot of time and effort and money.
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“Late in 2019, when I took over as the varsity head coach for Providence softball, I asked about a fence as soon as I knew we would be playing our home games at Olive Park,” said said Travieso. “Immediately, Providence said yes. Burbank Parks and Recreation said no. After the pandemic year of 2021, I went back to Parks and Recreation and asked again, they said no. “If they’re going to let us have a fence, they should let everyone else have a fence,” they said. “I don’t want to take no for an answer, so I’m asking again in early 2022 and I’m asking to talk to anyone who will listen, because I want to fight this” no.
Travieso continued: “I spoke via Zoom to a senior and he said no because Parks and Recreation does not want holes in the outfield. So, I found a standalone fence and asked too,” he said. “They said no because of insurance issues. I took “no” as … No matter what I asked, as a private high school, we were told no.”
Travieso immediately had an idea. “So, I contacted coach Doug, and we had coffee. I want to join forces, because I know this way, we can do something. He explains how he has been fighting for a fence and common things for his softball team for over a decade! I said Providence will buy us a fence and we’ll let you borrow it if we don’t use it until you get your own, but we have to get it approved,” he said. “Doug and I went to a meeting of the Board of Education and to our surprise, they were very receptive to help, because they didn’t seem to know all the questions I made.”
Grace Workman is a junior pitcher/first baseman at Providence and is happy that a portable outfield fence is now a part of the field she plays on.
“I’m so glad we have a fence on our farm,” he said. “It sets our farm apart from other farms in Olive Park. The entire school supports our softball program and I am very grateful to our athletic director, [James Jimenez] and all facilities and staff in Providence for the purchase of the fence for the team.
The strength of the two coaches likely made the outfield fence a reality, according to Travieso, whose daughter, Lilly, is a junior infielder for the Cornell University women’s softball team.
“Providence said yes from day one to the fence request. It was an expensive fence, but Providence understood from day one, it was important for the team,” he explained. “Providence [baseball] play in Foy Park which has a fence, our softball team has a fence. There is an advocate for female athletes like me, thanks to the foundation of my daughter, ELLA (created because of the inequalities she saw in Burbank) and the weight of the two head coaches of high school, I believe this is the greatest.
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Nicol voiced his side of the story on the fence.
“We have been in discussions about all this for more than a year, but it was only after our players and families attended a meeting with the Board of Education and shed light on the problems we had, and then. expressed We have raised our concerns about safety issues as well,” he said.
What is Nicol’s capacity to take the fence?
“My role is simply a facilitator to communicate to our players that they need to advocate for themselves and be vocal about their need to be treated with more respect and dignity, and to be treated the same as their counterparts at Burroughs ,” he said. . “Throughout the years, there have been complaints but no action. This group decided to act and thought it was important to send a message and set an example of promoting themselves by going to the Board of Education and making themselves heard. I did very little. All credit to the players, families and supporters who came to speak that night and be heard.
Nicol added: “After we attended the meeting and made our feelings known, immediate action came from the City of Burbank, and the Board of Education. It’s clear that our kids advocating for themselves has made a difference and people have seen the struggles we’ve had,” he said. “There’s some new leadership in the district that really came together and made a lot of this happen. In coordination with the City of Burbank, they did it. The main players in all of this are Diego Cevallos, the Director of the Parks and Recreation Department with the City of Burbank, as well as all the members of the Board of Education. None of this would have happened without the support of District staff members Dennis Maxwell and Andrew Cantwell. They will enjoy meeting our softball staff and hearing our concerns. After that, the ball started going really fast and things happened. I can’t thank them enough.”
Fortunately, apart from Travieso and Nicol, the other key people were there when the chips were down.
“A combination of new people in Parks and Recreation like Diego and the new president and others in the city council with the understanding of how important it is to give these tough female athletes an equal just a common decision,” said Travieso.
Patti Workman is an administrator at Providence and an assistant coach for the softball team and also appreciated the new fence.
“Before yesterday’s game, Providence was the only school on our schedule without an outfield fence,” he said recently. “I think having an outfield fence is very important because it defines the field and provides a real playing environment for our team.”
It really takes a village to make things happen and that’s for getting the long-standing portable outfield fence and a permanent bullpen at Olive Park.
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