Petaluma ?LL facilities rank with ?the best

Among the many benefits of summer is an opportunity to revisit the Little League venues that host the various tournaments.

Travel this year has been limited. I have been able to see games at all three Petaluma facilities, but my road trips have been confined to Rincon Valley Little League, where I saw several games, and Healdsburg Little League.

Over the last several years, I have seen games at most Santa Rosa diamonds - Santa Rosa American, Westside and Mark West in addition to Rincon Valley - along with Sebastopol, Ukiah, Mill Valley (where the diamond is geographically, if not officially, in Tiburon) and Joe Wagner Field in Larkfield (one of my favorites because of its location).

I always come away from those travels convinced that Petaluma’s Little League facilities take a back seat to no league.

Those who followed the Major League District 35 Tournament were very impressed with the Rincon Valley complex. Located in a tree-line valley in northern Santa Rosa, the facility is indeed impressive, with its four well-maintained diamonds and all the amenities.

The Rincon Valley facility does have two things none of the Petaluma facilities possess ­- a full-sized diamond and parking. Unless you count dilapidated McNear Park, Petaluma has no full-sized diamonds not located on school property. The Petaluma American’s home at Lucchesi Park has off-street parking available, but shares it with the soccer field next door, which can make for a crowd when there are events at both fields. You can park on the upper lot at Petaluma Junior High and walk down to Petaluma National games, but the walk back up is not for grandparents and aging sports writers.

Most of the other Little League facilities I have visited have charm and are decent facilities. Two of my favorites are Healdsburg Little League because of its location near the Russian River in one of my favorite Sonoma County cities and Westside for the very personal reason that it is located at Wright School where I received the first eight years of my education.

But, taken as a whole, our Little League facilities are as good as anyone’s, including Rincon Valley’s

Petaluma National still has a new-car smell, and it has everything a Little League team, player or parent could ask for. The facility had a long and laborious birth as the league moved from its location at the old Kenilworth Junior High School, but the wait, frustration and compromise were all worth the result.

I don’t know how old the Petaluma American League complex at Lucchesi Park is, but I know that it goes back more than three decades. It was around during my first Argus-Courier tour of duty back in the late ’70s. It is active proof that some things get better with age. Its three diamonds have been continually upgraded and improved.

The Americans have gone all out to get its facilities in shape and keep them that way as they serve as host for district, section and Northern California tournaments in the 10-11-year-old division. They are making Petaluma proud.

And, of course, its Major League diamond may be the only Little League diamond in Sonoma county with lights.

By far the most improved facility in town is the Petaluma Valley diamonds. That league has done a lot of work in the last year, and it shows. Space is tight and the diamond is aging, but league volunteers have done much to maintain and upgrade Murphy Field.

Rincon Valley is great, but when it comes to Little League facilities, Petaluma has it out numbered.

(Contact John Jackson at johnie.jackson@arguscourier.com)