Simmons Store Field Repair

Simmons' Store Needs Your Help!

Back in 2018, Carroll County was hit with flooding that devastated the area. Farmer’s had fields that were washed away, Cascade Lake had its’ dam knocked out and Simmons’ Store in Snydersburg had its softball field left in ruins. The purpose of this GoFundMe fundraiser is to help relieve Carroll and Jeanie Neudecker of the costs associated with getting this field back into working condition. For years, they have allowed softball and baseball teams to play for little or no cost and call this field home – our goal is to help them out so they can continue to do so.

A Little History of the Field

Sometime in the 1930’s, fast pitch softball began in the little town of Snydersburg, located just outside of Hampstead Md. The field was hidden behind a house that would eventually become the home of “Simmons Ice Cream”. Men would gather to play after a hard days’ work to enjoy the competition, camaraderie and to forget about life, even if it was just for a couple of hours. After a decade, sometime in the 1940’s, lights were installed to make time for even more softball. A single pole still stands next to the back stop as a reminder. Games were played Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays which always drew a crowd. The Hampstead Merchants who played League games at Snydersburg won the State Championship in 1954 which was played at Westport Stadium. Quite a feat for a Team from such a small town. Some of the players on that team were Dominic Bellusci, Kenny Aubel, Frank Bellusci, Wendel Pearce, Wayne Harman, Eb Treadway, Harry Graham, Charlie Graham, Dick Murray, Wilt Eckstein, Billy Nelson, Jack Leister, John Lang, Bob Shaffer and Gene Gibson.

In the late 60’s, fast pitch softball was converted to slow pitch softball at Snydersburg. Fast pitch relied heavily on the pitcher - if you had several good pitchers hurling there may be only a couple of hits a game. Fun for the pitcher and catcher but not so much for the rest of the fielders waiting for their chance to scoop up a grounder or chase down a fly ball. So, along came slow pitch, much easier to hit, more running of the bases, more runs scored, more action for everyone including the fans. What’s not to like about slow pitch softball? Men and women leagues started up everywhere. Co-ed leagues were formed including husbands, wives, friends and couples who got the chance for a night out with friendly competition. Slow pitch was popular in Carroll County and the Snydersburg Field was part of it.

If you played softball in Carroll County in any of the Leagues, there is a good chance that you played at Snydersburg. The original “Field of Dreams” to some was surrounded by corn fields, had a wooden bridge you had to cross to get on the field and yes – the field is next to the best Homemade Ice Cream made in MD (my expert ice cream opinion). Simmons Ice Cream store was founded by Joe and Estie Simmons and now operated by Carroll and Jeanie Neudecker. Carroll and Jeanie has never charged for the use of their field and when not serving ice cream are watching the games out the rear window of the store.

The slow pitch League started out as a church league in the late 60’s and included church teams from Snydersburg, Wesley, Hampstead, Black Rock, Shiloh and numerous others over the years. Sometime in the early 80’s it was converted to a standard league, NCLS- North Carroll Softball League. There has always been very competitive teams in the league who had players that played in larger, outside Leagues. There was also a very successful Women’s Team, Snydersburg Women’s Softball Team, which their trophies are still displayed at Simmons Store.

The Carroll County Flood of 2018

In 2018, disaster hit Carroll County Hard. The NCSL (North Carroll Softball League) was midway through the season when this catastrophe struck. The fence in left, center and Right field succumbed to the water overflowing the back stream. The low lying field that once you could run down a well hit fly ball became a swimmers challenge. After 50 years of consecutive years of slow pitch softball of never missing a season came to an end. To make matters worse COVID-19 hit shortly after. No games have been played since.

We have made slow progress on the repair of the field due to limited time, funds and help. We have installed 600 feet of drain tile, replaced the bridge and moved 350 tons of dirt to the outfield to raise center field approximately 5-7 inches. We have accomplished a lot but have a long ways to go. Tasks remaining are grading, seeding, replacement of fencing and just recently the John Deere mower we use to mow the field needs major engine work. All repairs so far have been paid with NCSL League savings and by limited donations. Since the League has not played any games since 2018 there has not been any income by NCSL League fees.

We are starting a GoFundMe page to help pay for the remaining expenses. Any amount at all is appreciated. We are also accepting donations of equipment use and other materials that will be needed for these repairs. If you wish to volunteer to help out when the time is needed please contact me. There have been many, many people that have enjoyed playing at “The Burg” and we hope to start playing in 2022. Carroll and Jeanie have done a lot for this softball league and various baseball leagues over the years so we feel the least we can do is help to get this field back to how it was before the floods hit in 2018, if not better. I would like to thank the following people and Companies for their help and donations for the repair of Snydersburg field, it is very much appreciated:

• Brian Stultz for finding and transporting the dirt.

• Pat Noone for lending us his equipment and time to transport the dirt across to the field.

• Alex Griffith for operating the backhoe and digging the trenches.

• Bryant Mann / White Pine Paving for lending us their Bobcat.

• Workers Mike Klingenberg, Stan Ford, Dave Garrett, Matt Cassell, Justin Cassell, Dave Alban, Darryl Cassell and Brandon Hepding.

• Communications Electronics Inc for various donations

Written By NCSL Commissioner and Snydersburg Resident,

Scott A. Cassell