THE FIRST PITCH — Brooke County Superintendent Jeff Crook watched as Joe Pettini, a 1973 Brooke High School graduate who went on to a long career in professional baseball, delivered the ceremonial first pitch to Brooke Bruin catcher Aiden Provenzano for the opening of the school’s new artificially turfed baseball field on Thursday. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — It was a time for celebration and memories as Brooke County School officials celebrated the opening of Brooke High School’s new artificially turfed baseball field on Thursday.

Brooke County Superintendent of Schools Jeff Crook acknowledged the many involved in the $2.3 million project while also recognizing coaches who made an impact on the school’s baseball program through the years.

Crews with Field Turf of Calhoun, Georgia, installed the field, which was funded with a portion of proceeds from the sale of schools that had been closed under a previous administration.

School personnel led by Steve Mitchell, director of buildings and grounds, and students in the high school’s electrical class, under the direction of instructor Nick Petrovich, renovated the field’s press box.

“We’re very proud of our career technical students. We’re training them for real world experiences,” said Crook.

MAKING THE CUT — Flanked by members of the Brooke High School baseball team, members of the Brooke County Board of Education on Thursday cut the ribbon for the new Brooke High School baseball field, which has a new artificial turf surface and upgraded press box. In celebration of the field’s opening, all attendees were admitted free to the first game there against Toronto High School. -- Warren Scott

He noted the students rewired and installed new outlets for the press box, which also will serve the school’s soccer fields.

Mitchell said his crews lowered its ceiling and installed new insulation, heating, air conditioning and flooring and will be putting in new windows.

He said crews with the Vasco Group of Massillon, Ohio, and Field Turf started excavation and other prep work for the field in January, working through cold temperatures.

Mitchell said new drainage structures were installed to carry water absorbed into the ground away from the field.

He added for similar reasons, nearly 200 tons of rubber pellets and 130 tons of sand were poured to serve as a base for the turf.

The field’s opening drew many Brooke Bruin baseball fans, past and present, as well as a number of area residents tied to the sport’s history at the school.

Joe Pettini, a 1973 Brooke graduate who went on to play for the San Francisco Giants and coach in major league and minor league positions for the St. Louis Cardinals, was enlisted to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for the field.

Crook presented large display boxes containing Brooke memorabilia to Nancy West, widow of former head baseball coach Perry West; and Ron Ujcich Sr., father of late former head coach Ron Ujcich Jr.

West had coached baseball at Brooke for 37 years and was involved in the original field’s construction.

“He would have loved to see this,” Nancy said of the new field.

Ujcich had headed the Bruins baseball team through 13 seasons, one being canceled because of the pandemic. His leadership of the team was cut short by an all-terrain vehicle accident when he was 45 years old.

The young coach was remembered by many for his deep concern for his players, while school officials also noted he had helped out with the field.

Crook noted a bouquet of yellow roses, a nod to the school colors, lay on home plate in honor of the two late coaches and led attendees in a moment of silence for them.

Other past coaches or players on hand included Rob Robinson, who served as assistant or head coach for 23 years.

Also a former buildings and grounds supervisor for the school district, Robinson knows the work that went into maintaining the more traditional field.

“I remember all of the hours we worked on the field,” he said, noting students in the high school’s facilities maintenance class aided in dragging and lining the field, among other tasks.

“We did everything. That’s what all of my kids did. So this is a lot different,” said Robinson.

Of the new field, he said, “It’s gorgeous.”

The Bruins ball team started its season on the Edwin J. Bowman Field in Weirton, with the team facing the Toronto Red Knights for its first game on the new field Thursday.

The game followed a ribbon cutting by members of the Brooke County Board of Education near home plate, and all attendees were admitted to the game at no charge.

Current head baseball coach Doug Costain said of the new field, “It’s hard to feel another other way but excited.”

Costain said the sentiment was shared by his players.

“Our kids didn’t want to come off it from practice,” he said.

Costain applauded the cooperation involved in making the field a reality, saying of the school district’s administration and personnel, “They all pull the rope in the same direction.”