Eagle Scout Project Completed at Jail Hill Ball Fields
By Philip R. Devlin
HKHS senior, Matthew Pray, of Higganum started playing T-ball at age five and became a Cub Scout at age six. He has been actively involved in both baseball and scouting ever since, so it was a natural fit for him to combine the two activities for his culminating Eagle Scout project. That project came to fruition last Wednesday at the Jail Hill fields in Haddam when Matthew, with the assistance of a work party, displayed the products of his labors: a kiosk with baseball memorabilia and a bulletin board and two replacement benches.
Former Haddam Little League President Pete Christopher had suggested the project to Matthew about three years ago. Covered by plexiglass, the kiosk contains the first home plate ever used at the field in 2002 as well as a Little League plaque and a name plate with Matthew’s name on it. The back side of the kiosk has a cork board display area for announcements.
Matthew had to fill out an Eagle Project Proposal form which had to be approved by an Eagle Scout coordinator, a scoutmaster, the Connecticut Rivers Council Scouting Council coordinator, and the Haddam Little League. Both Jason Waterbury, the current Little League president, and Pete Christopher, the former league president, stayed in constant touch with Matthew throughout the project. Matthew cited Mr. Christopher as being his most important influence on the project.
A work party of about twelve current scouts, his dad, Scott, and his brother, Jackson, helped Matthew in the final assembly phase last Wednesday, November 11th. Ralph Rand, longtime head of the Little League umpires for Haddam, and Matthew’s high school coach Mark Brookes, who was a member of the very first Haddam Little League team back in 1963, were present to congratulate Matthew upon the completion of his project. All agreed that Matthew’s project definitely enhances the appeal of the local ball fields.
Congratulations, Matthew, on a job well done!
