Union pitches in to get school its own ballfield Fundraisers, donated labor make long-sought field a reality at ICC BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Left to right: Union employees get set for a day's work on a long-sought ballfield for Immaculate Conception School in Spotswood. Construction manager John Decker (left) and Phil Teetsel use a transit rod during the preparation of a new ballfield at the Catholic school. The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 Training Center in Dayton, South Brunswick, donated their time to build the field. SPOTSWOOD - What do the Yankees, the Mets and the Immaculate Conception Bulldogs have in common? All will be playing on brand-new fields in the coming year. Through several years of fundraising efforts, along with a good deal of help from a local union, the baseball and softball teams at Immaculate Conception School, Manalapan Road, will finally have a home field on which to play. "We're definitely all excited, and we're looking forward to getting in a couple of games on it this year," John Palumbo, baseball coach at the school, said. "They keep asking me every day, when can they play on it, when can they play on it." The young sluggers, comprised of sixth- through eighth-graders, will get their wish in two to three weeks, according to Palumbo, after sod is installed in the outfield. Recent and past help from the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 Training Center in Dayton, South Brunswick, played a major role in making the long-awaited field a reality. Recalling their assistance a few years back, Palumbo reached out to the union again when the field needed to be graded to meet specifications. They were more than happy to help, Palumbo said. Bringing manpower and machines, the union spent several days getting the field ready for play. "It was good practice for them, and we got great service," Monsignor Joseph Curry said. "It's a great gift. They did an amazing job." John Decker, volunteer construction manager for the project, has ongoing ties with the school. After attending as a child, Decker sent his own two children there, and now it seems only natural for him to pitch in and help the field project come to fruition. "I've been working with them for a couple of years now," Decker said. "I enjoy working down there with the school." Decker said the help from the union was a key factor in getting the field completed, and the time and money it saved was a boon for the school. Palumbo agreed, saying they were especially helpful in the process. Palumbo also thanked everyone who contributed to the efforts over the years. The school applied for several grants for the field, but was denied, making grassroots efforts necessary to see the project come to life, according to Palumbo. A number of car washes, bake sales and spaghetti dinners put funds into the field, Palumbo said. He added that when the field is complete, he hopes to bring back students from four and five years ago who helped to raise funds, but never got to reap the benefits of their work. "It came together with just a lot of people wanting to help the kids," Palumbo said. "It's sort of like a field of dreams."