LOCOS TACKLING MOVE TO SIMMONS
By TOM USHER

The Lima Locos have found a new home. After years of playing at Shawnee High School, the Locos are packing up their train whistles and heading to Simmons Field in June.

The Locos moving didn't come as a complete surprise. There were conflicts between the Locos and Shawnee's other summer resident, the Shawnee ACME team. There was also the matter of Shawnee running and handling the concessions.

But where were the Locos to go? First, they need a place with lights.

That ruled out an excellent facility like Elida's Ed Sandy Field.

So, instead, the Locos reached a five-year deal with the city and Mayor David Berger to play at Simmons Field. No money changed hands, but the Locos agreed to maintain and upgrade the facility.

Those upgrades include the outfield fences, the lighting, the seating and the overall condition of the field. All will have to be addressed to play this June in the Great Lakes Collegiate League.

First, the field. Actually, the city's Parks, Recreation and Forestry Division began this fall with the upgrade. "The city replanted all the infield grass in the fall of 2007," Locos general manager Steve Meyer said. "They also filled in some deep undulations in the outfield with dirt and seed.

The parks department has rolled the outfield." Meyer did say that the grandstand, dugouts and fences will all be painted green. The city will also bring in additional city-owned stands and place them at Simmons. There will also be a new scoreboard in place.

Another upgrade will be the lights. Meyer said the Locos will be responsible for adding 20 more lamps to the light standards. There are also upgrades planned for the pressbox.

One of the league's main concerns was moving back the center-field fence. Simmons is 330 feet down each line. That's fine. But the city will help the Locos move the 350-foot center-field fence back to 380 feet. That move includes moving back the light poles that now sit right behind the fence. The Locos will finish the process by adding a 20-foot high batter's eye.

Then, there's the parking issue. "The hope is we'll continue discussions with the American Legion (to use its lot next door)," Meyer said. "And behind the backstop there is a grass parking area. There's more parking with the grass area than what Shawnee has now."

Restrooms won't be an issue, as they already exist close to the concession stand. These will be about 200 yards closer than going to the Shawnee football stadium.

A concession stand already is in place at Simmons. And now the Locos will run it. Fans have to hope the Locos continue to use the same hot dogs as Shawnee and cook both the burgers and dogs on the grill. That's what made Shawnee's concession one of the best in the area.

As for a new item on the menu, Meyer is still working out the details of serving beer.

"We'll need a special-event license, like at square fair," Meyer said. "We're looking at a beer garden away from the kids. … If it happens the first year, great, but if not, we'd like to have it eventually."

As for next year, the Locos will be the primary tenant, but may have to share the field with the Lima Legion.

"The Legion will play some games there, but I understand the majority of their games will be Lima Senior," Meyer said. "We realize it's a partnership with the city, Lima Senior and the Legion."

So is this a good move? Right now, I'm keeping an open mind. I'm trying to block out a high school tournament game I saw there a few years ago when high grass, ruts in the outfield and a sea of dandelions made the field look like a junkyard. Instead, I'm thinking of how nice Simmons was the first time I saw it. And how nice it could be again.