In Milton, a grand opening it was

Game umpires, team captains and managers meet at home plate before Wednesday's game. (Lebanon Voice photos)

COPYRIGHT 2017©MILTON - Instead of "Batter up!" at Wednesday's home opener for the Nute Softball team, the home plate umpire more appropriately could've said "Community up!"

Why? Because it was a community that came together to build the field on which the Epping Blue Devils were playing the Nute High Rams in their inaugural home opener.

It took a year of fund-raising and an army of volunteers as well as local organizations and businesses to get it done, but Fred Cameron of Cameron's Home and Garden said there was no better cause for the community to involve itself in.

"If we can just help one child and can keep them involved by playing sports, it's worth it," he said, summing up the collective feeling of the Softball Field Committee members regarding the project.

Recognized prior to the opening pitch for their contributions to the building of the field are from left, Fred Cameron of Cameron's Home and Garden Center of Farmington, Nute Facilities Manager Bob Adams, John Katwick, Department of Public Works Chief Pat Smith, Rec Director Karen Brown and Selectman Andy Rawson.

Besides Cameron, others to be honored during Wednesday's opening ceremonies included Milton Rec Director Karen Brown, Milton Public Works Director Pat Smith, John Katwick and Andy Rawson who represented town selectmen.

The field, which has not yet been named, is neatly carved out behind the Milton Elementary School on grounds formerly only occasionally used as a landing spot for Medflights to Boston or Portland hospitals.

Community leaders, students, athletes, Boy Scouts, businesses and just regular townsfolk worked tirelessly in the past year to build the field without any taxpayer money.

Almost $100,000 in money as well as time and material donations has been raised in the effort.

Last fall two Boys Scouts from Milton Troop #155 built the dugouts as part of their Eagle projects, from pouring cement to pounding nails to painting.

Nute seniors Dave Barca Jr. and Zach Gerard spent a combined 200 hours of work on the dugout project.

Meanwhile, other local businesses that have helped with equipment, labor, material and money include Perkins Concrete of Rochester, Can Brothers of Middleton, Sebastian Septic, Eastern Boat, Milton VFW, Currier Plumbing, Paey Construction, the Milton Moose, Barron Brothers, including driver Tim Lund, Spartan Mechanical LLC, Teneriffe Sports Club and Gilford Well.

It should also be noted that many of the local businesses and benefactors chose to remain anonymous, including one who has donated more than $20,000 in equipment and material over several months and another who donated $4,200.

As far as the game, it played out on a raw, gray day in which the Blue Devils handed the Rams their first loss of the season after a 3-0 start, 12-2.

Even with the loss, however, the happy smiles of players on the field and pride felt by those who built it watching from the sidelines transcended any single game outcome.

That they were playing on this field was a victory in itself.