Local sports complex devastated by tornado reopens 4 baseball diamonds

Action Sports Center was destroyed by storm damage late Memorial Day. KAITLIN SCHROEDER

Action Sports Center was destroyed by storm damage late Memorial Day. KAITLIN SCHROEDER

Four baseball diamonds are back in operation at Dayton’s Action Sports Center — home to some of the area’s largest youth baseball tournaments — after a devastating EF-4 tornado caused massive destruction on Memorial Day.

“With the massive amount of volunteers we have been able to open our lower level fields,” owners said on Twitter Sunday. “We will be without lights for some time but fields are playable at The Quad. This is a true testament to all of the support we have received. We can’t say thank you enough.”

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The football and soccer fields are all also playable, said one of the owners Kyle Coby. Within the next two to four weeks, Coby said he hopes to get the other fields up and running.

Tournaments are continuing as scheduled. On any weekend in March through October, the center could host up to 1,000 youth athletes, according to a GoFundMe page the group of owners started. They’re hoping to get $75,000 in donations, and have received $2,870 in two days.

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The tornado snapped several light poles and destroyed 80 percent of the fencing, Coby said. Replacing the lights alone is a half million-dollar project.

“The building will be down I would say a minimum six months unless a miracle happens and we can get everything lined up and ready to go,” Coby said.

The complex is expected to officially reopen next spring, according to the GoFundMe page.

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