Hello Friends, Family, Neighbors & Bulldog Nation,

Coach Lara and I are putting together this Go Fund Me in order to raise funds toward the purchase of a portable backstop for Preo Field.

I've attached some photos for reference, but essentially when Preo field was built, no thought was given to the absolute need for a backstop. Because of this oversight, we are unable to contain foul balls within the confines of the field. You will see in the photos that there is tall netting installed behind home plate, but without the presence of a "hood" the balls go straight up and over into the alley, and more often than not, into the neighbor's fenced and securely gated yard.

We have investigated adding a chain-link hood to the existing chain-link fence, but because the netting goes all the way to the ground, we are unable to attach one. We have also investigated purchasing a heavy-duty portable backstop, but at over 500 lbs., it cannot be left sitting on the turf, not to mention that they cost well over $6000.

Coach Lara and I have identified a truly portable and collapsible backstop called the Big Daddy Turtle. It can be set up in less than 5 minutes. It can be set it up and taken it down for practice and games and then safely stored away to keep it from being damaged by the elements. This item will help protect people from nuisance foul balls into the alley and backyards, but also our players, as our dugouts are also not protected from foul balls.

The catch (and there is ALWAYS a catch with CPS), is that this item is NOT available through an approved CPS vendor. Currently, there is ONE approved vendor with a complete monopoly on sports equipment at CPS and this vendor does not carry this particular item. Because they do not carry this item, and we would be using school funds to purchase it, we are unable to buy it. If we can raise the funds this way, I can make the purchase myself and donate the item to the school.

Please consider supporting us in our effort to provide a safe playing environment for everyone.

Coach Barrett & Coach Lara

P.S. If the weather holds out, please join us for the 1st game of the season as we take on Rickover Naval Academy at home on beautiful Frank Preo Field @ 4:30pm! Go Bulldogs!