LEETONIA Official: Fields will be ready in 2004

Homecoming and senior recognition night will be at Crestview, one official said.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LEETONIA -- Leetonia will play its first football game on its new field in 2004.
Superintendent Tom Inchak said although construction crews have made good progress on the football, baseball and softball fields the past few weeks, work won't be completed before this season ends.
"I hate to sound like a broken record, but the weather has not been cooperative," Inchak said. "They're supposed to put the sod down next week, but there's not enough time for it to take root."
Inchak has said sod has to be left unused at least 30 days before it is playable.
Inchak said the final two home games of the season -- tonight's homecoming game and the Oct. 10 senior recognition night -- will be played at Crestview.
Warm welcomes
Inchak said Leetonia players and fans were welcomed warmly at other home games at East Palestine and United.
"The fans have been faithful, traveling to support the team and the players have a great attitude about the whole thing," Inchak said. "They could be down and complaining about not getting onto the new field, but I haven't heard that.
"Early in the season, one of the players had a great quote. He said, 'All the fields are 100 yards long. Let's play.'"
School officials hoped to have the field ready for this season, but construction was delayed by excessive rain.
The home stands seat about 1,100 fans, and the bleachers for visiting fans about 700.
The baseball and softball fields were lost to construction two years ago.
The high school and stadium were demolished this spring because construction of a new kindergarten-through-12th-grade facility was completed last year.
Demolition of the stadium had to be done this spring or the district would have lost the state money that paid for it, Inchak said.