Joe Drennan
Sports EditorWhen Forest Lake baseball enthusiast Corbett Johnson first envisioned a covered grandstand in Forest Lake he probably didnít envision what he saw Friday night at the grandstand dedication.
Baseball fans young and old filled the stands at The Ballpark at Schumacher Field for Fridayís dedication. The fans were serenaded by the Famous Forest Lake German Sitting Band and Ernest Lawrence Thayerís poem ìCasey at the Batî rang out over the speakers before the dedication got underway.
ìI thought it was fun to see the flags flying, the green grass and the grandstand full of people,î Johnson said. ìIt was fun to see a lot of people in the grandstand eating hot dogs.î
VFW Post 4120 presented the colors and El Ewert led the crowd in the singing of the National Anthem to get things started. P.A. announcer Bob Engquist gave the crowd a brief history lesson about the early days of Schumacher Field, and the early days of Forest Lake. Engquist spoke of how everybody seemed to know each other and how they meet Websterís definition of ìcommunity.î
The fans gathered learned about former Forest Lake High School teacher and coach John Schumacher, the man the field is named after. Schumacher was a football, basketball and track coach in the mid 1950s. Schumacher lwas the junior high athletic director until his death.
Schumacherís wife Mary was on hand for the dedication.
Three ceremonial first pitches were thrown out. Ty and Bill Jeans each threw one out in recognition of the contributions their father, Ray, had made to the ball park. Bob Morehead threw the third pitch in recognition of all the workers who volunteered their time to the ball park.
Johnson acted as emcee of the event and thanked the many different people that helped with the baseball field and grandstand over the years whether financially or through their own hard work.
ìThis building [the grandstand] would not be possible without the help of the volunteers.î Johnson said. ìForever Iíll look at these people with a warm place in my heart for all that they have done.î
Johnson read off names that included the Jeans family, the Houles, the Johnson family, to Inter-State Lumber Co. and Ed Johnson Electric. Johnson said he probably could have read names all night, but he tried to keep it short so that there was still time to play a baseball game.
After all the thank-yous and speeches, Dr. Richard Ottomeyer of the Forest Lake Rotary Club officially handed the keys to The Ballpark at Schumacher Field over to Independent School District 831 Superintendent Lynn Steenblock.
ìWhen you look at this place,î school board president Bill Bresin said, ìit is truly a field of dreams.î
Before the dedication ended, Johnson spoke of the grandstand saying, ìIf we could effectively promote it, we can promote it a meeting place and become the definition of community once again.î
The dedication ended with the Forest Lake Brewers taking on the St. Paul Stockman Irish. The Irish are coached by Johnsonís brother Dana who used to play for the Forest Lake Lakers.
The Irish jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after the first inning. The Irish defense was able to shut down the Brewers. By games end, the Irish had added six more runs for a final of 10-0. The game was an exhibition.
The Brewers return to league play Sunday when they play at Quamba at 2 p.m.
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