Pictured, from left, Chris Tobin, Wyoma LL field director; Tony Luciano, Wyoma LL president; David Solimine Sr.; Salvy Migliaccio; Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy; Salvy Rocco Migliaccio; Dante Migliaccio; David Solimine Jr.; Joel Solimine; Anthony Migliaccio; and Michael Solimine.
Thanks to a combination of private donations and City funding, baseball and softball will soon be played under the lights in Wyoma Little League.
Lights will be installed at Reinfuss Field in Wyoma Square – the league’s primary baseball field – and Lynn Woods Field, the home of Wyoma Little League softball. The total cost of the project is approximately $120,000, half of which is being raised through a fundraising campaign spearheaded by David Solimine Jr.
Solimine Funeral Homes and Salvy the Florist, owned by Salvy Migliaccio and his family, each contributed $10,000 to start the campaign. Another $20,000 has been raised toward the $60,000 goal to install the lights at Reinfuss Field. The remaining $60,000 for the lights at Lynn Woods Field will be funded as part of the City’s FY 14 budget.
“This is an exciting project that will benefit thousands of Lynn youth over the years,” said Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy. “We are grateful to the Solimines and Migliaccios for stepping forward to get the ball rolling. We are proud to partner with them, other donors and Wyoma Little League.”
Kennedy noted that while Wyoma players will be the primary beneficiaries of the lights at the two fields, Little League baseball and softball players citywide may also benefit since Wyoma traditionally hosts All-Star games and City Series contests.
Solimine said he was approached by Wyoma Little League President Tony Luciano about raising money for lights so that the league could get more use out of its two main fields. Solimine enlisted the support of Migliaccio and has since attracted several other donors and sponsors.
At Reinfuss Field, there will be four light posts, each with room for up to six advertising banners. For a $2,500 donation, a business can have its banner up for 10 years. According to Solimine, 16 banners have been sold, with eight remaining.
Luciano said in addition to providing for expanded use of the fields, having lights will allow Wyoma Little League to host more sectional contests and put it back in the mix to host the state finals, for which a lighted field is now mandatory.
“We plan to bid to host the 2015 state finals,” Luciano said, noting the last time Wyoma hosted that event was in 2001.
Adding lights to the softball field at Lynn Woods will complete a makeover of that complex that has included the installation of dugouts, a clubhouse and a new infield.
Luciano said there are approximately 400 players in Wyoma Little League and he is hoping that number will grow with the increased field availability provided by having lights.
If you are interested in donating to the fund for the lights, contact Dave Solimine at 781-595-1492.