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Cohoes schools report field readiness, batting-cage bid and dugout roof fix for spring sports
Summary
Athletic staff told the board the baseball and softball infields are usable for practice; the district received bids including a $150,000 price for a single‑lane batting cage. Dugout roofs on the softball field will be removed for the season and rebuilt after summer work.
Athletic and facilities staff told the Cohoes City School District Board on March 19 that high‑school fields are usable for spring practices but that some unfinished work will remain until the summer.
Principal athletic updates came from Jeff, the district athletic director, who said the baseball field was dragged and used for practice the day of the meeting and that the softball infield will be ready in time for the first scheduled game on April 3. Jeff said, “The baseball field… was sufficient for practice today.”
The board heard that the softball infield was turned over to the district late the prior week but that a contractor punch list remains. Stacy, a district staff member involved with the capital project, said the outfield improvements are scheduled for the summer and will not affect the upcoming season. Stacy described a design flaw in the dugout roofs: the roofs will be removed so athletes can use the dugouts without a roof during the season and the concrete pad and roof structure will be rebuilt after the season.
Board members asked about a proposed batting cage in the capital project. Jeff and Stacy said the cage as bid is a single‑lane design. Jeff said the district asked for one lane as an incremental addition to the larger project; board members suggested cost‑out comparisons for one versus two lanes because shared infrastructure can reduce the incremental cost of a second lane. Stacy reported that bid openings occurred the same day and that the cost for the cage line item was $150,000.
The athletic update included roster and participation detail: JV and varsity baseball combined reported 31 players, modified baseball 24; JV/varsity softball 26, modified softball 27; boys outdoor track 52 and girls 36, leading the athletics staff to plan for two buses to meets. Jeff also noted a successful winter season: the girls bowling team won the Class B sectional and finished seventh at the state meet; Alexis Yando was named to a composite all‑section team.
Board members pressed staff to check whether the single‑lane cage meets long‑term needs and asked that the district discuss alternatives and cost tradeoffs with the capital‑project team. Stacy said the district will bring the question to the relevant capital project review meeting.
Ending: The board received the update and flagged the batting cage and dugout redesign as items for follow‑up at the capital‑project and facilities discussions; staff said final paving and other bid items will return to the board in April.
