Permit for WNCC ball field amenities OK'd

With a new baseball field at Western Nevada Community College nearly playable, workers can start on everything else the college's new baseball team might need, as soon as more money is raised.

Carson City planning commissioners approved a permit on Wednesday for the John L. Harvey Field's second phase. Phase one is the field itself; phase two is everything else, including stadium seating, concession stands and an indoor batting facility.

The next thing that will actually be built, said Terry Reynolds, who represents the project's major patrons, the Wingfield Nevada Group and the Whittemore family, will be the batting facility. Anyone who has lived here long knows they'll need it to get any hitting work in during the spring, he said.

"The concession stand is probably a high priority in terms of income, but a low priority" compared to seating and practice facilities, Reynolds said.

Slightly more than $1 million has been raised for the estimated $2 million field, which will eventually contain seating for about 520 fans. The WNCC Western Wildcats men's baseball team is scheduled to play its first season there next spring.

n Contact reporter Cory McConnell at cmcconnell@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.