Memorial Field conditions are sad

It was a pleasure coming back to my hometown this past summer. Whitefish is a beautiful area and was a great place for me to play the game of baseball.

I had a lot of success growing up playing baseball in Whitefish. From Little League Baseball to winning the Regional Babe Ruth Tournament and earning a birth to the Babe Ruth World Series in 1983, baseball was being very good to me. More success came after that by being on the only state championship team in Glacier Twins history.

My big disappointment when I came back was the facility at Memorial Park in Whitefish. The old classic bleachers were gone. I understand that these bleachers were condemned based on politics. I understand that. But why is there no replacement for the old stadium? This stadium was torn down years ago.

The current conditions of Memorial Field made me very sad. Plus the surrounding fields for Little League look abandoned. What happened to baseball in Whitefish? Where has the game gone?

Earning a full scholarship to Gonzaga and experiencing much success there, I feel sorry for the kids today that play the game and have zero atmosphere at these fields. Baseball has been the most successful sport in the North Flathead Valley for a long time by sending student athletes with scholarships to the next level.

Why is there no atmosphere at the Twins games? It seemed as if someone had died when I attended a very important conference game that was crucial for The Twins. You could hear a pin drop. There were no fans with no noise.

I am sure these kids and coaches have worked hard to be in contention for a state birth for the first time in over a decade. What is the Glacier Twins board doing about this?

I hope this letter puts a boot up some behinds and helps build baseball back to where it use to be. Maybe they should ask some local people like Julio Delgado, Billy Sapa or Ray Queen and others who helped build baseball back in the 70s, 80s and 90s to get back involved.

I know that if you will build it, they will come.

Billy Walker

South Dakota