Raging floodwaters destroy Pat Murphy Field
Little League president says despite rumors to the contrary, despite the flood damage, the season will go on as planned.
The Susanville Little League, which plays at Pat Murphy Field, faces a major disaster after Mother Nature hurled a wicked screwball and Susan River floodwaters swept across the site and destroyed four ball fields and a parking lot Thursday, Feb. 9.
According to a report given to the Susanville City Council at its Wednesday, Feb. 15 meeting by Benjamin Moore, president of the Susanville Little League, while the damage to the fields themselves and the rest of the facility has yet to be determined, at a glance he estimates Pat Murphy Field suffered a $100,000 loss.
The parking lot at Pat Murphy Field couldn’t hold back the water Thursday, Feb. 9 when the Susan River roared through the Little League facility.The damage includes collapsed fences, washed away infield dirt, silt, clay and debris covering all four fields, asphalt torn up in the parking lot, water damage to the snack bar and club house and the destruction of the wooden backstop at the Major Field.
Tryouts — to be held March 4 and March 11 — have been moved to Susanville Ranch Park.
Team practices were scheduled to begin March 13, Opening Day will be April 8 and the Minor Division is set to host the District All-Star Tournament this year.
While some in the community say the Little League season will not happen this year, Moore is determined it will.
“The season is going to happen,” Moore said on the league’s Facebook page. “We’re going to do this for the kids.”
He said the floodwater reached a depth of 4 feet in some places and the flow even pulled down some outfield fences. Local residents made some efforts to clean the field Saturday, Feb. 11, but for now cleanup efforts are on hold so the fields can dry out.
For more information, go to susanvillelittleleague.com or visit their Facebook page. A Go Fund Me account has been set up at gofundme.com/restoresusanvilleLL.
