Naval Base Plays Ball, Shares Field With City

Local sluggers soon may have more room to swing for the fence thanks to an agreement between the city and the Naval Weapons Station to share a ball field on the base.

The deal will bring relief to crowded Zoeter Field, the city’s only lighted baseball field.

“It’s a great field, but there are certain nights of the week when we have better caliber players and the field is a little too small,” said Nancy Beard, Seal Beach director of parks, recreation and community services.

The city had resorted to using limited-flight balls to avoid smashed windshields and other home-run hazards at the park, which is wedged between houses and a church in Old Town, Beard said.

The deal to move some games onto the base wasn’t without difficulties. It took two years and two base commanders to iron out security, maintenance and other concerns.

The agreement allows the city to use one of the base’s two ball fields two nights a week. Beard said the Seal Beach Kids Baseball Assn. and the city’s heavy hitters will use the Navy field, which is not wedged in a residential area like Zoeter Park.

“Hopefully, we’ll be out there by fall,” Beard said.