BY MIKE HOUSER
Nevada Appeal Sports Writer
As an attorney who specializes in qui tam law, Carson City's Tim Terry spends his day tying to level the playing field for whistleblowers who expose fraud perpetrated by the government.
In his capacity as a board member for the Carson City Little League, Terry is continuing his quest to level the playing field for local players who could benefit from the construction of an indoor batting facility.
"We need a place for kids to practice when the weather's lousy," said Terry, a former prosecutor for the attorney general. "They're competing with travel ball and all-star teams from Las Vegas and California. It's apparent that the kids are at a disadvantage because they can't practice half the year with cold weather."
The concept originated about 10 years ago, said Terry, who has been a coach or board member for the Carson City Little League since 1979.
About two years ago the projected cost of the indoor project " which would be located in a warehouse at Governor's Field " was about $250,000. Terry said someone in the community came forward with an out-of-town donor to finance the project, but the donor never materialized.
After "treading water" for 18-24 months, Terry's hopes for the indoor project were rejuvenated when "a group of people who would like to remain anonymous" came forward with a bequest of $150,000 in December.
While he won't have a concrete figure for about a month, Terry estimated the total cost of the project will be $400,000 ("maybe a little less," he said) and remains hopeful the community will contribute the remaining $250,000.
"We've got a lot of money toward our goal," Terry said. "We're close, but we need a little more help."
Jim Andrews, vice-president of the Little League board of directors, said completion of the project would be a boon to local kids.
"At Redding's Big League Dream (sports park), there was a discussion among many groups about the lack of indoor facilities where you don't pay to play," Andrews said. "There are none. This facility would be huge for Carson kids."
Andrews said he didn't know if the completion of the indoor project would level the playing field, but "it would definitely help our kids to get inside and out of the weather."
Andrews said players lose good mechanics when their hands sting and are freezing from the March and early-April weather at the start of the Little League season.
For his part Terry, who also is an umpire, feels he is making the right call as he appeals to the community for its assistance.
"I know we're having difficult economic times," Terry said, "but with a little more money, we can fund this thing."
Those who want to donate to the indoor project can write a check to Carson City Little League, P.O. Box 1875, Carson City, NV 89702, or contact Tim Terry at 775-291-9070.