Aug 23, 2010 By Christine Haines 2 min read

LUZERNE TWP. – The Penn-Craft baseball field is being restored in part using a grant from Pirates Charities, the official philanthropic arm of the Pittsburgh Pirates. According to Matt Nordby of the Pirates, the Penn-Craft Community Association requested and received $3,990. Nordby said the money will be used to install new fencing at the 69-year-old field.

“They’re doing a renovation of the field. The grant was given July 2,” Nordby said.

The field is currently used by more than 150 children on eight teams and a new fall league is expected to be organized there. The grant from the Pirates is one of several received for the renovation project, which includes construction of a new public pavilion, installation of a playground and development of a parking area, according to information submitted to Nordby.

Nordby said nonprofit organizations can apply for the Pirates Charities grants through the charity’s website, www.pirates.com/piratescharities.

“We are very grateful to the Fields for Kids matching grant program for providing the funds necessary for our dedicated volunteers to complete installation of Penn-Craft’s baseball field fencing,” said Lou Orslene, president of the Penn-Craft Community Association, in a prepared release. “This new fencing is integral to updating our field for the hundreds of young people in Penn-Craft and neighboring communities.”

Nordby said grant recipients must be from southwestern Pennsylvania and grants are awarded based on need.

So far this year the charity has handed out 18 grants worth more than $80,000. More grants will be awarded in September.