SV field project now complete

St. Vincent de Paul High School’s Yarbrough Field project is now complete. Last week, students, faculty, coaches and parents celebrated the dedication and blessing of the Rick and Trisha Young Family Fieldhouse, overlooking the fields previously installed all-weather turf football/soccer field, baseball and softball diamonds.

St. Vincent Associated Student Body President Joey Wertz served as the master of ceremonies for the dedication, noting that the field house, which includes an entryway to the playing fields, is a “passageway from academics to athletics.”

School Principal John Walker expressed appreciation for the cooperation of all involved in the project with special thanks to the William G. Irwin Charity Foundation for their grant.

St. Vincent de Paul Parish pastor Rev. Gary Lombardi led everyone in a prayer of thanks followed by a blessing of the new two-story, 2,000-square-foot building.

St. Vincent Board of Regents President Edward Kavanaugh, Walker, Lombardi, and Rick Young, general contractor and donor for the project, cut the ribbon after the blessing to a cheer from the school’s cheer squad and athletic team captains. The fieldhouse is named for Young and his wife and family, owners of Sonoma-Marin Construction, the general contractor on the project.

Placed at the main entrance to the athletic field, the fieldhouse contains a snack bar and ticket admissions window, restrooms and storage on the first floor. Additional storage, an announcer’s loft and a large athletic conference room occupy the second floor, which is accessible via an ADA-compliant lift elevator.

The Yarbrough Field project began in 2009 with a grant from the Billy and Louise Yarbrough Foundation. The all-weather, artificial turf sports field hosts football, soccer, softball and baseball fields used by all St. Vincent High School teams, youth soccer teams, flag football leagues and many other area athletic programs.

The facility’s artificial turf saves an estimated 4.4 million gallons of water a year in irrigation. The school also benefits from a labor savings since the turf requires little maintenance.

Following the ceremony, guests gathered in the second floor conference room for a reception and to cheer on the girls varsity soccer team as they took on the Calistoga Wildcats and won 8-0.