Picking through the ashes

Published 9:00 am Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Little League plans to rebuild the Rotary scorekeeper’s booth,

destroyed by arson.

In the arms of volunteers, bats, balls and blackened trophies made their way from a shell of charcoal to a bed of emerald grass Saturday at Rotary Field.

When the work was through, for the first time in nearly 15 years, Ed’s Shed, destroyed by arson earlier this month, was empty.

One last time, against the backdrop of its familiar walls, flashed the toothy grins of Bainbridge Little Leaguers. Then the league’s newest, most formidable slugger – a yellow-clad backhoe – stepped in and took cut after cut at the old scorekeeper’s booth until only scraps were left.

“It went down pretty fast,” said Bainbridge Island Little League President Mike Sheehan, of the structure demolished to make way for its replacement. “We were able to salvage a few things, some banners. But everything else was gone.”

The building, erected in the early 1990s by then-islander Ed Wiedenman and a team of volunteers, was reported ablaze in the early morning hours of March 4.

Firefighters extinguished the flames, and the outside of the structure remained intact following the blaze, but its interior was destroyed along with trophies and memorabilia accumulated through decades of league play.

Among the losses were tokens from the Bainbridge Island All-Stars’ 2001 run to the Little League World Series.

Police are investigating the fire, which was quickly called arson, but haven’t identified any suspects.

With the season only a week away, parents, players and league officials are focusing on plans for the new Ed’s Shed, which they hope to have finished in time for the league jamboree on April 14.

The city is trying to fast-track the necessary permits to build the structure, which will look much like its predecessor according to Brian Moore, of MRJ Construction, which is voluntarily heading the project.

Moore said the company won’t have a firm cost estimate until later in the week, but league officials are hoping to raise at least $65,000 to replace the building, scoreboard and public address system, which were all rendered useless following the fire.

The first step was Saturday’s demolition, aided and observed by an estimated 100 volunteers. When the debris was removed, the only thing standing was the building’s foundation.

Still, teams carried on practice as usual at the field, tuning up under pleasant skies for next week’s first pitch.

Plans for the new structure will be finalized this week, with construction scheduled to follow shortly after.

Sheehan and Moore said the biggest impediments to the effort are shortages of time and money, of which the league has raised about $10,000.

Several individuals and organizations, including Little League organizations in Woodinville and Kirkland, have donated to the project.

“I know more people will come out of the woodwork,” said Moore, who has children in the league. “We just want to do what we can to help.”