Keay Field abutter takes baseball association to court over foul ball danger, damage

The front of 20 Crowhill Road lies mere yards from Keay Field. (Rochester Voice photo)

EAST ROCHESTER - The Simmons of Crowhill Road can enjoy their outdoor patio today without fear of being hit by a line drive foul ball, but whether they can enjoy it this spring and summer may end up being decided in a Strafford County courtroom in June.

Beverly Wild-Simmons and her husband, Michael, petitioned the court in June 2021 after they say attempts to get the East Rochester Baseball & Athletic Association to address the danger of foul balls hitting their house and grounds fell on deaf ears.

"When we bought our house in 2015 it (Keay Field) was a softball field used by middle school children," Wild-Simmons said recently. "Now it's grown men playing baseball and they play 140 games a year."

Keay Field from the Simmons back patio, which is rarely used during games. (Courtesy)

According to their injunctive relief filing, the transition from a little used middle-school aged softball field to a much-used adult baseball field began in 2015.

Wild-Simmons said when the pandemic hit in 2020 the number of games ramped up even more, with out-of-staters coming up from Massachusetts and elsewhere to play games every weekend from early morning to late evening.

The Simmons say every time a foul ball unexpectedly thuds into their siding it's unnerving and erodes their quality of life. Their petition asks for $15,000 in damages for their home's siding alone.

What's worse, they say, is that these slicing foul balls are often propelled at such force it's dangerous for them to even be out in their yard or on their patio.

"We've lost the use of our yard, and it's devastating," Wild-Simmons said. "I've had a ball land right next to where relatives and friends are standing."

While the Simmons live along the first base line, Charlee Breen and her family live on the other side beyond third base.

CRYING FOUL: A siding crack the Simmons say was caused by a foul ball from Keay Field. They are looking for $15,000 in damages for repairs. (Courtesy)

Breen, who has lived in her house for 17 years, said a few years ago it "went from 0 to 60 from playing one or two games a weekend to every night and on weekends from early morning to late at night."

She said her vehicles have been hit several times, but she's never asked the owners of the field or the Seacoast Mens Baseball League to compensate her, because "they're old cars and I don't care."

However, she does object to what she describes as a cavalier attitude by some of the folks in charge.

"I spoke with one of the managers, and told him some of the balls were landing in my garage, and he told me to get homeowners insurance and keep my garage door shut," she said on Saturday.

She also said players are constantly coming into her yard, even going into her back yard to retrieve balls.

"I've had people in my garage, I've had people walk up to our bedroom window looking for a ball," Breen added.

But what she fears most is a child being struck while playing in the street.

She said Crowhill Road and Spring Street where she lives are both fairly quiet streets and neighborhood kids are often out skateboarding or riding bikes.

She said one time a few years ago she watched in horror as a young mother pushing a baby stroller had a high foul ball land about six feet behind her.

"Children also use this street in the summer walking to the East Rochester pool," she said. "I don't think people understand the danger of those foul ball."

"Somebody has to be accountable," she said. "I shouldn't have to put my life at risk going out to get the mail."

The principal user of Keay Field is the Seacoast Mens Baseball League, which consists of eight teams. Last season they played four games every Sunday, according to their schedule at seacoastmensbaseball.com.

The Rochester Baseball and Athletic Association president is Kevin Gosselin, who did not return phone or text messages.

The Simmons are represented by Stephen A.S. White, Esq., of Dover, who said the two sides will meet for mediation this month.

If the two sides are unable to come to an agreement a jury trial is scheduled for June.