New clubhouse a big hit thanks to efforts of many Volunteers, businesses, town officials step up to help baseball league BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer SCOTT FRIEDMAN The clubhouse deck overlooks a baseball field. OLD BRIDGE - The Sayre Woods South Little League is enjoying some big improvements as its baseball season gets underway. Through the hard work of a number of dedicated individuals, along with donations from area businesses, the players and coaches have a newclubhouse to replace the makeshift one they used in past years at the baseball complex, Fox and Cindy streets. "It was a sight to be seen on opening day, something I'll never forget," said Frank Santoro, league president. "It brought tears to my eyes - God's honest truth - that they had it ready for opening day." Whatmade it evenmore remarkablewas the fact that without all of the help pitched in, the new clubhouse would have cost around $75,000 to build.With the combined efforts, it cost $20,000, Santoro said. Erected atop the existing clubhouse, the building was completed within a two-month time frame, culminating two days before the league's April 19 opening day. Windows, lumber, sheetrock and tiles were brought in at cost by businesses looking to lend a hand. "We just basically paid for labor," Santoro said. Tommy Galante, owner and president of OldBridge-based T.Galante Properties, took charge of the project, according to Santoro. "Tom basically coordinated everything and put the ball in place," Santoro said. "He gave me his word. He said, 'Frank, I'll put this thing up in two months.'" Santoro, alongwith leaguemember John Abair, spent long hours at the site, both overseeing and jumping in to take part in the work on various aspects of the project.Abair would be there fromearlymorning to late afternoon, and Santoro would get there around 3 p.m. and not leave untilmidnight, he said. "It was unbelievable," Santoro said. "It was a big headache, but in the long run, it was well worth it." Santoro jokingly thanked his wife for remaining married to him during the taxing process. One notable feature of the newclubhouse is the outdoor deck, which allows games to be announced. It's exciting for the league's 550 players, Santoro said, because they get the chance to hear their names broadcast for the crowd. "It's definitely something that we never experienced, let alone dreamed of," he said. "Adream became a reality." Santoro compared the presentation of the new building to something out ofABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." It is no wonder, as the baseball teams were using a garage for a clubhouse in the past. A stream running past the rear of the property made matters worse. "It was a major headache any time there was a storm," Santoro said. Due to the low-lying area of the field complex, rainwater, along with sewer water that drains into the stream, would flood the temporary clubhouse, eventually resulting in mold problems.Aside fromthat regularmalady, the league was hit with further adversity in March 2007 when a nor'easter storm struck two weeks before opening day. One of the major fields in the complex was under 4 feet of water, and covered in debris. Something had to be done. "Last year was a disaster year for us," Santoro said. "The township, at that time, really stepped forward for us." Councilman Rich Greene especially stepped up to the plate to offer his assistance, Santoro said. "He's another great guy," Santoro said. "Whenever I need him, I call him." Town officials offered up bulldozers and the manpower to operate them. Abair secured free dirt. Various league parents teamed up to help work on making the field flood-proof. "It was like, six days straight, trucks going in and out of there," Santoro said. "It was just an incredible scene.We had our own guys there, day and night." After the long hours of labor,workers had built a 20-foot berm around the perimeter of the field to thwart floodwaters from wreaking havoc there. The township added to improvements by installing a new fence in the outfield. It is Santoro's second year of involvement with Sayre Woods South, and his first as president. If the new clubhouse is any indication, he is batting 1000. "People gave me 'no' for an answer, but that's not acceptable. When you're dealing with kids and a nonprofit organization, 'no' is not acceptable," Santoro said. "It's a great thing to see those kids out there on a beautiful field," he added.