Only a few weeks from completion, AIA will provide a 5,500-seat grandstand with 112 stadium chairs and 438 bench-back seats just in time for the dedication of the field during the Scouts’ final home doubleheader on Saturday, Aug. 1
The dedication of the field will honor a family who was vital in making the construction possible.
In July of 2008, Ryan and Katrina Smith of Erie, Pa., friends of the AIA baseball ministry, gave birth to their first babies — twins Gianna and Grady. Born more than three months premature, Grady lived for 52 hours.
After the loss, the Smiths were searching for a way to direct the love and support they had received toward a cause that would memorialize their son.
Knowing that AIA needed another $150,000 to build the stadium, the Smiths asked for contributions to AIA for the construction.
The site will be called “Grady’s Field.”
The public is invited to the 7 p.m. dedication ceremony Aug. 1, between the two baseball games. Family and friends of the Smiths will be present.
The stadium will be used by teams as far away as Missouri, Illinois, New York and Tennessee. In the past two springs, more than 50 different colleges, including University of Dayton and Wright State University, and more than 70 different high schools have played on the field. In 2009, 180 baseball games will be played at Grady’s Field.
Located at 1197 S. Detroit St., Grady’s Field is part of the AIA Sports Complex and Retreat Center, which also includes two synthetic turf soccer fields and softball fields, a synthetic turf football field, track, challenge course with high and low elements, retreat center, four residence halls and a conference center.
For more information on the AIA Sports Complex and Retreat Center, visit www.athletesinaction.org/sportscomplex.