Ingram Little League receives a fitting opening day after flood recovery

Eight months after the July 4 flood destroyed their fields, Ingram Little League celebrated the grand opening of a rebuilt baseball complex Saturday, March 21 — a $3 million effort backed by Major League Baseball, two Texas professional franchises, and thousands of contributors from across the country.

The new complex features three fields and two practice facilities, with a mix of natural grass and artificial turf. Ingram Tom Moore High School Athletic Director Tate DeMasco served as master of ceremonies.

Houston Astros owner Jim Crane threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Local athlete Holly Alvarado closed the ceremony the traditional way, shouting “Let’s play ball.”

“It puts a tear in my eye to see how great this looks,” Crane said, “and to help you guys get back to rebuilding.”

Crane highlighted contributions from Major League Baseball, the Texas Rangers, the Nolan Ryan Foundation, and the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, and pledged that the Astros Foundation would continue providing funds to help offset participation costs for players. He was particularly proud of the practice facilities, which give kids dedicated space to get reps in.

Jose Guzman, a former MLB pitcher representing the Texas Rangers Foundation, pointed to the broad coalition of Texas baseball organizations — including the Rangers, Astros, and Round Rock Express — that partnered to make the fields a reality.

Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, put the recovery effort in broader terms.

“One of the things we’ve learned in recovery is that after a disaster you don’t replace what you’ve lost,” Dickson said. “You build for what comes next. And today is not just opening day for Little League season. It’s opening day on a new season of life.”

Bob Cohen, co-owner of the San Antonio Missions, spoke to what was at stake when the fields went under. Cohen acknowledged contributions from Ryan Sanders Baseball and Wilson Sporting Goods, and noted support from the San Diego Padres — the Missions’ MLB affiliate. The Padres and the Boston Red Sox both wore jerseys representing Kerr County high schools during a flood fundraiser in San Diego; the Missions did the same here at home.

“People intend baseball to create family memories,” Cohen said. “And to think that there would not be a facility here to play Little League Baseball was crushing to us.”

The league, celebrating its 40th anniversary, typically serves around 200 kids per year. The excitement surrounding the new facility drove enrollment up 85 percent this season.