Cape Cod Baseball League’s Firebirds pitch in for Orleans on field lighting project

Orleans Firebirds president Bob O’Donnell, left, elbow bumps Orleans facilities manager Ron Collins after a brief ceremony at Eldridge Park. Merrily Cassidy/Cape Cod Times

Eldredge Park just got a little brighter.

The Cape Cod Baseball League’s Orleans Firebirds presented a $40,000 check to the Town of Orleans on Monday to help offset costs to renovate the field lights at the park where the Firebirds play their home games.

Firebirds president Bob O’Donnell partnered with Orleans Select Board Chairman Kevin Galligan and Department of Public Works and Facilities Manager Ron Collins to improve the conditions for everyone who uses the field.

“We always want to make sure that the field is a safe environment for players and fans,” O’Donnell said. “That goes with a lot of things we do with the field like putting up nets to protect the crowd. We are constantly trying to improve the field. It’s all about the fan and player experience with us.”

The Eldredge Park Lighting Project began at the end of 2019. It started as something small and simple, replacing blown bulbs. However, after further inspection of the lights and review by the Select Board, it was agreed that a 10-year reconditioning plan for the lights was the most cost-efficient way to go. In November, Spark Electric, Baxter Crane of Yarmouth and United Rentals completed a contract with the town.

“The one question I got was, is the town in position to receive money and I said of course,” Galligan said. “This was a very generous gift from the Firebirds. I hope this is something to look forward to with baseball back under the lights come June of 2021. People need something to look forward to and this is going to be it.”

Last year’s season was canceled due to the pandemic, but O’Donnell says he and his team are looking forward to baseball being back. 

“We are looking forward to regular baseball,” O’Donnell said. “We are planning and operating, walking and talking like we are having baseball. We are excited about it. We are not the decision maker in this process for sure. We are encouraged by what people tell us and at the government level of what we read, that there is a chance for a season.”

O’Donnell said as far as pandemic restrictions are concerned about this upcoming season, that is not up to him but up to the Town of Orleans because it is a town field. He said they will adhere to whatever decision they make. The Firebirds’ first game for the upcoming season is set for June 12 at home. O’Donnell says if everybody works together to beat the pandemic, their first game will have fans there unrestricted. 

Although the Firebirds are the primary users of Eldredge Park, the field is also used by Nauset Regional High School, American Legion Baseball, other men’s league teams and middle school events. It was ranked as the top summer collegiate ballpark in the nation by Baseball America.