SPORTS
‘Iconic’ east Cobb baseball complex gets facelift
By Aleks Gilbert
agilbert@mdjonline.com
EAST COBB — In March, several former
Major League Baseball players and community
business leaders celebrated the renovation
of the “iconic” East Cobb Baseball/
Softball Complex, which has trained a
number of kids who have gone on to play
professionally.
“The legacy of this complex, as we celebrate
the rebirth tonight, is impeccable, and
doesn’t it look bright and shiny and new
and gorgeous?” said Daron Sutton, former
MLB broadcaster and son of former MLB
pitcher Don Sutton.
The facelift was funded by Perfect Game,
a partner of the privately-owned complex
that has the exclusive right to host tournaments
there. Perfect Game bills itself as
the world’s “largest elite youth baseball and
softball platform and scouting service.”
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Before a ceremonial ribbon was cut on
one of the complex’s freshly-turfed fields,
Jennifer Ford, executive director of Perfect
Game’s charitable arm, said the organization
would begin hosting a series of free baseball
camps for children around metro Atlanta
and the country.
“You can’t one-and-done these kids, their
narrative doesn’t change if you just give
them a one-day experience,” she said.
The inaugural camp was held at the
complex March 11, and more than 500
kids were expected to attend, said Taylor
McCollough, vice president of operations at
Perfect Game.
“We are going to build upon that as long
after the event is over, and support programming
right here in their community
so that they can continue to take the field,”
Ford said.
Austell resident and former MLB utility
player Lou Collier said investments in
the complex and in providing free events
to children in the area would make a big
difference in their lives.
“Certain kids, when they know that you
care, and they see that they have opportunity
to do something different with
their lives, and they have support — lives
change,” he said.
Astroturfing the complex’s eight fields
was just the first part of the facility’s renovation,
albeit the most impactful, McCollough
said. In the future, Perfect Game will update
the scoreboard and shade structures as well.
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