Pro baseball players join parents’, coaches’ efforts to raise support for Canyon Crest Academy’s ‘Field of Dreams’

By Karen Billing

As Canyon Crest Academy coaches and parents pitched the idea Jan. 28 of bringing a baseball and softball complex to their school, they brought in a real closer to send the message home: Major League baseball's all-time saves leader and former San Diego Padres player Trevor Hoffman.
No "Hells Bells" entrance was needed for Hoffman to take command of the room and say how important it is for players to have a field in which they can take pride.
"When they feel proud, they feel better about playing for the name on the front of their jersey than they do the name on the back," Hoffman said.
The CCA Baseball and Softball Strategic Visionary Group is looking for corporate and individual support to help fund an estimated $1.5 million-$1.9 million “Field of Dreams” project. The group held an informational meeting Jan. 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn to spread the word about its goals.
"We want to have the best facility, the best team and the best kids in San Diego County," said baseball coach Ryan Sienko.
Although Canyon Crest has one of the largest gyms in the state of California and "top notch" tennis courts, the baseball and softball fields have never been given much attention. Currently, both the softball and baseball fields have "austere" dugouts, as parent John Kay calls them. There is not enough room for all the players to sit on the bench. The backstops are domed in a community park style, which limits the catcher's ability to make plays on pop-ups, and there isn't a proper setback from home plate.
The fields also have no fencing or lighting, which limits both practice time and the length of games. Fans are without comfortable seating, restrooms or a scoreboard to keep them in the game.
Plans for the new complex aim to right those wrongs, adding fencing, a hitter’s eye screen, scoreboard, new backstops, lighting, a snack bar/scoring box, restrooms and covered dugouts with a changing room/locker room, much like those at Torrey Pines High School.
“The nice thing about these upgrades is they will be done incrementally, meaning we do not have to raise all the money before we start improving these facilities,” said parent John Kay, who served as Master of Ceremonies for the event. “This project will be like a snowball rolling down a hill, it will only get bigger and stronger as we get going.”
Canyon Crest Academy Principal Brian Kohn said it makes sense to him to finish the job.
"Athletics are just as important as anything that goes on at the school," Kohn said. "Right now it's a piece missing from the picture."
Softball coach Morgan Lynch said there is already a great group of girls playing for Canyon Crest and she can only imagine the strides they could make with a better facility.
"There is an amazing boom of young softball players in this community," said Lynch.
Both Lynch and baseball coach Ryan Sienko said the players in the program are the epitome of student athletes.
"None of these kids are even in danger of getting a 'C'," Sienko said.
At the meeting, the CCA group brought in guest speakers Hoffman, softball player and former San Diego State coach Sara Hayes, and former Major League pitcher Kirk McCaskill, whose son attends Canyon Crest. All three spoke of their fond memories at the ballfield throughout their careers and how the game can produce strong individuals on and off the diamond.
"I'm a big believer in CCA," McCaskill said. "It provides the best opportunity for a well-rounded education, it should include quality athletics."
Hoffman agreed, saying,“When you care deeply about where you are, it shows in your performance and results.” Hoffman continued to the parents, “The passion has to come from us, and then it will fuel down to our kids.”
Canyon Crest's coach Sienko actually met Hoffman when he coached Hoffman’s 8-year-old son in Little League last year.
Hoffman said that while his son could hang out with Tony Gwynn or meet All Star first baseman Prince Fielder (Hoffman's teammate on his new team, the Milwaukee Brewers), his son's eyes were never wider than when sitting in the dugout in front of coach Sienko.
"You're very lucky to have this man leading your kids," Hoffman said.
The funds and plans are already in place to give CCA softball and baseball players batting cages this year. Going forward, the Canyon Crest Academy Foundation will look to volunteers and supporters for donations, capital, bonds, and grants to get the money necessary to complete the “Field of Dreams.” To volunteer, contact Barbara Horwitz at bhorwitz@san.rr.com or Sandy Brown at sbrown57@san.rr.com.