Citrus Heights Rotary, alumni, help revitalize softball field at San Juan High

By Sara Beth Williams–
The San Juan High School girls’ softball team now has a newly revamped field to call their own, thanks to the help of the Citrus Heights Rotary Club and graduates from the Class of 1974.

Citrus Heights Rotary Club member Albert Fox said in an interview that the club donated $10,000 to the San Juan Alumni Association, which then used the funding to revitalize an old boys’ baseball diamond at San Juan High School into a functional softball field for the girls’ varsity softball team.

Initially, a request had been submitted to the Rotary Club for a smaller sum to help fund the project, but the club ultimately decided to take on the revitalization of the field as a “legacy project.”

“A legacy project adds sustainable value to the community,” Fox said.

With the help of volunteers and funding, the field was reseeded, new benches were added, two storage containers were donated, additional sod was laid in the infield, and bases were installed at the required intervals for softball. San Juan High School Principal David Levis also said the Rotary Club and the Class of ’74 installed a practice pitching run, and the San Juan Unified School District contributed new sprinklers.

“The girls are really taking to it,” Levis said. Girls’ varsity softball head coach Sara Garcia added that the team painted the benches and the backboards bright red.

Last fall, the San Juan Unified School District Board of Education approved renaming the girls’ softball field after 1974 San Juan High School graduate Lex VonBergen. The field now displays her name and photo on a red sign attached to the fence for spectators to see.

The players also have new jerseys with the number 74 printed on the back and “Lex” in place of where last names would typically be.

Currently, the outfield has a temporary fence, but the district has agreed to install permanent fencing as part of the upcoming football stadium revitalization project, Levis confirmed during a visit to the school last week.

“All of the sports are funded through fundraising and ticket sales,” Levis said. The district also provides stipends for coaches and transportation for teams to travel to away games. Garcia noted that the majority of their games are away.

The girls’ varsity softball team has a 16-game season and recently completed two games against Mesa Verde High School. The team has four more games scheduled in April, with the final game of the season set for Thursday, May 1, against Highlands High School.

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