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Health & Fitness

Teams Need Batters Eye at Church Lane Field

The new Giant Foods store has caused an issue at the ballpark on Church Lane. Lower Macungie Youth Association brought the issue to the attention of the township parks and recreation board last week.

The in Trexlertown has caused an issue at the township ballfield at .

Mark Erle from Lower Macungie Youth Association brought the issue to the attention of the LMT parks and recreation board last week.

The removal of trees combined with the consruction of the new grocery store has created the need for an installation of a batters eye.

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A batter's eye is a dark solid-colored area beyond center field. It serves as the visual backdrop directly in the line of sight of a batter who is facing the pitcher awaiting the pitch. The primary purpose is the safety of the batter.

Previously, a line of trees provided a solid color and prevented glare for batters. This is an issue due to the combination of the removal of trees, a light colored roof and HVAC equipment which creates a glare.

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This particular field is used heavily by as the home ballpark of the high school baseball team. Additionally, it's used by LMYA. At the high school level pitchers throw consistently in the 70's and 80's and use breaking pitches. This creates serious safety concerns for batters, catchers and umpires when a glare in center field is present behind the pitcher and they cannot locate the pitch. 

LMYA recieved a quote of $8,600 to install the screen. It has approached Giant  and Cedar Realty, the company that owns the Trexlertown shopping center.

It has heard nothing definitive back from Giant or Cedar Realty yet.

It is also hoped that the school district will contribute some money as well as expertise to ensure quick construction for this safety issue.

Acknowledging the danger to players in the upcoming season, the parks board made a motion to "support expedited construction of the batter's eye screen with the township picking up any unfunded portion of the construction cost."

The motion was made by Corey Bruno and seconded by Thomas Deily, and it was approved unanimously.

The motion now goes to the Board of Commissioners in the form of a recommendation. 

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