Fields of Dreams: a look at school baseball stadiums

In today's sports world when one talks about a Field of Dreams, they are referring to baseball fields as made famous by the movie of the same name. Dripping Springs has long had a field of dreams in their history beginning back in the 1880's. Every small town or community seemed to have a baseball team and they were also very strong rivalries, not to mention any big celebration was climaxed with a baseball game. I read about how the community treated a non-popular politician at a political rally. They assigned each politician to a spot on the stage to make their speech. He was last. As it was nearing his time, various people mingled through the crowd letting them know the game was about to start. By the time his speech was to be made there were very few people left in the crowd. He complained this was not the first time it had happened. Also, Syd Hall, a life-long Driftwood native and DS graduate, could remember starting out early in the morning and walking to Dripping Springs to watch or play in a baseball game.

Dripping Springs had their field of dreams for decades. Fields were not elaborate in the day. Mow the field, maybe drag the infield, chalk it, put up some type of backstop and throw down the bases. Dripping Springs' town teams used the field the most although there is some evidence the local schools also fielded teams and played games. This field was constructed on part of the original DS plat that contained Blocks 1 & 2. So, to imagine where the field would be located today. The backstop was located at the southwest corner where Spring Street (now 290) and San Marcos street intersect. The outfield was facing northeast. So the field took in the area now occupied by Central Garage and two other businesses plus Wells Fargo Bank property. When the movie theater was built in 1937 there was a slight modification. Most likely this was the field being playing on when Allen Stephenson was playing third base and broke his leg when slid into, got gangrene and died.

When the school bought 20 acres across the branch in 1947, they would build a baseball field on that property. Baseball was not a UIL sport for Class B schools until early 50's. The first field on that property was located on the north end. The old Walnut Springs Elementary now covers that hallowed ground. In 1957, DSISD was able to purchase a small triangle of property adjacent to the existing football field. They connected the two partials of land to become the backstop and infield, plus the football outfield. Lights were installed and games could be played at night. It remained the baseball field until 1986 when school growth called for a new campus off 290 (now DSMS). It remained in use by others until 1998 when the construction of Walnut Springs Elementary wiped out all trace.

Coach Dennis Seale, the baseball coach, is credited with the design of the fourth field. It was a picturesque field nestled among some trees just East of the football field. Continued district growth called for the baseball field to be sacrificed once again. It was dismantled and today the only sign of what was is the backstop and both dugouts.

The fifth school field was erected on property in the Parks and Recreation Sports Park. This was 1998. It was a hurry-up job to be ready for the season. It turned out to be one of the best grass facilities in the area and still is. It is now being used by the DSYSA. In the last five years, an all-weather field was constructed on the campus and of course a top of the line facility.

Softball

Softball, girls and boys, has been around a long time as well. It was in the form of playground ball. Fields were usually of the crude variety too and played during county meets. In the early 90's, fastpitch softball was introduced to offset Title IX for baseball. Dripping Springs joined the action in 1994. Coach Seale was given the task to get a field ready. The old baseball field was converted and used until 1998 when everything was dismantled to be Walnut Springs Elementary.

Now a new field was needed. The community along with the school got busy and by the start of the 1999 season had constructed another top of the line facility. It was built just above the HS baseball field in the Parks and Recreation Sports Park. The field was abandoned when the HS all-weather fields were installed at the HS campus.