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Kuna considers large youth sports complex

KUNA — A significant youth sports complex could be coming to Kuna — if all goes as planned. A public meeting to inform and educate residents and locals on the project was held Wednesday at Swan Falls High School. Around 30 people were in attendance, including the city’s Economic & Community Development Specialist Jessica Hall. […]

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KUNA — A significant youth sports complex could be coming to Kuna — if all goes as planned.

A public meeting to inform and educate residents and locals on the project was held Wednesday at Swan Falls High School. Around 30 people were in attendance, including the city’s Economic & Community Development Specialist Jessica Hall.

In April 2024, the city of Kuna was approached with an idea for a youth sports complex, presented by True Gritt Youth Sports Chairman David McMenomey, who moved to Meridian from Texas nine years ago. True Gritt is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing higher levels of athletic competition to the Treasure Valley.

The proposed complex would have both indoor and outdoor sports accommodations including 14 youth baseball/softball fields, eight full-sized indoor basketball courts, and a family entertainment center. The fields will be turf, which would give them around 10 months of use each year, McMenomey said. Development around the complex could also include two hotels, restaurants and a gas station.

The complex would be the first of its kind in the state and region, McMenomey said, and will be located near the intersection of Meadow View and Meridian roads.

“We’re anticipating from looking at other facilities that are similar size and the amount of tournaments that we’d be able to host, between all of the sports, about a million visitors a year coming into the facility,” McMenomey said.

Kuna’s planning and zoning and economic development teams were excited about the project because it would be an “incredible asset” to the city, Hall said to the Idaho Press. The city council will likely begin looking at the complex plans in July.

The city has donated 20 acres of land for a 114-acre sports complex, McMenomey said. The project will likely cost $120 million with the onus on McMenomey to raise the funds.

Not everyone at the meeting was thrilled about the complex coming to Kuna, a southern Ada County community that has seen large-scale growth and development in recent years.

“My home is directly behind this, and all I want to do is sit outside and read a book, and I don’t feel like I’m going to be able to do that,” Stacey Poiriar said during the meeting. “I feel like I’m not going to be able to sell my house now. I’ve been there for three years, and I don’t feel like this is fair.”

If built, the complex would be in Poiriar’s backyard. She’s concerned about traffic and noise that the complex could bring to her neighborhood.

“Nobody talked to our neighborhood. Nobody talked to anybody, letting us know that something of this magnitude was coming,” she said. “I think it’s a great idea — I just don’t think it should be right in the middle of a housing development.”

Andy Riley, president of the Kuna Youth Softball and Baseball Association, also expressed some concerns. Although he is excited at the prospect of having local fields for Kuna teams to play on, Riley is worried about prices. Sometimes, a developer will say that they’re building something for the local community, but they’re really just in it for the money, Riley said.

“Then all of a sudden it’s pay to play and I don’t want to see that happen,” Riley said.

As long as folks can afford to play there, Riley doesn’t see an issue with the complex and expressed excitement at the idea of Kuna teams winning games on their home turf.

Troy Croghan, chief executive officer at True Gritt Youth Sports, estimated that the facility would bring 100 jobs to Kuna.

“We’re all sports dads,” Croghan said. “We’re not some big corporation that’s trying to come and make a bunch of money on this project, in fact, we’re doing it as a nonprofit.”

Before the complex can begin the construction process, a number of steps need to be taken including a rezoning of the application in a public hearing process; a traffic impact study completed by the Idaho Transportation Department and Ada County Highway District; the submission of a subdivision application and infrastructure plans; installation of infrastructure; a design review application; and building permits.

McMenomey estimated that work could be completed by the end of the year, depending on what sponsorships and funds are collected.

According to Hall, if all goes well the sports complex could be built in two-to-three years. Once construction has started, McMenomey estimates the facility could be built in 18 months — a number he says he’s received from several local construction companies.

“Kuna has a large and growing youth population and this complex would allow for a positive outlet for our local youth, as well as for youth across the Treasure Valley,” Hall said. “The complex would provide a location for family fun, and would be a destination for tournaments; the increase of tourism to Kuna would bring new businesses and strengthen our local economy.”

All of this began for McMenomey in 2023, when he was at a Christian business mastermind event. One of the exercises was to pray and ask where God sees you in 20 years, McMenomey said.

“I reluctantly did, and I heard two words: youth sports,” he said. “That’s when I saw a youth sports complex and I was pretty shocked, because I hadn’t seen anything like that before.”

After doing some digging after the conference, McMenomey said he found similar facilities on the East coast. He then had a sports facilities company do a feasibility study, just to see if the Treasure Valley could support a youth sports facility. The study found that the valley could handle two facilities, he said. That’s when McMenomey began looking for land.

After meeting with several cities, McMenomey found a match with Kuna. He brought it to the city’s economic development team in 2024.

Now, McMenomey is fundraising and looking for big businesses that may be interested in sponsoring the facility and potentially getting naming rights with a sponsorship. Once 50% of the funds are raised — $60 million — McMenomey says he’ll be ready to break ground on the project.

The ultimate goal, McMenomey said, is to create a place for kids to come and play sports, whether it be for tournaments, competition or just fun.



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Sports in brief: District 65 Tournaments slated | Youth Sports

District 65 Tournaments are about to begin The District 65 Little League 12’s, 11’s, 10’s and Tournament of Stars tourneys will begin Saturday, except the 10’s tournament, which will begin June 21. The Nipomo Little League will host the 12’s tournament. Atascadero will host the 11’s tourney, Lompoc will host the 10’s tournament and Village […]

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District 65 Tournaments are about to begin

Lompoc coaching opening



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Vanderbilt Football | Times, Windows Set for Rest of Football Schedule

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Additional game times and windows for Vanderbilt football’s eight SEC games were released by the league office on Wednesday, less than two weeks after kickoff times and television information was announced for the Commodores’ first three contests of the fall. Vandy’s final two nonconference matchups with Georgia State (Sept. 20) and Utah […]

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Additional game times and windows for Vanderbilt football’s eight SEC games were released by the league office on Wednesday, less than two weeks after kickoff times and television information was announced for the Commodores’ first three contests of the fall.

Vandy’s final two nonconference matchups with Georgia State (Sept. 20) and Utah State (Sept. 27) will begin at 6:30 p.m. CT and 11:45 a.m., respectively, at FirstBank Stadium, while it was also revealed that the Dores’ game at Texas on Nov. 1 will kick off at 11 a.m.

All other contests in the fall were designated a window of early (11 a.m.-noon), afternoon (2:30-3:30 p.m.), night (5-7 p.m.) or flex (afternoon or night). Flex games, which are limited in scope, will be narrowed to a specific window 12 days prior to kickoff, with precise times and broadcast networks for those matchups announced six days prior to kickoff.

This marks the second season that the SEC will use this system, which was designed to help ESPN and ABC have maximum flexibility to present the top games as the season goes on while also providing more advance knowledge of game timing to assist with game day planning.

2025 Vanderbilt Football Kickoff Times & Windows (all times Central)
Aug. 30 vs. Charleston Southern – 6 p.m. (ESPN+/SEC+)
Sept. 6 at Virginia Tech – 6:30 p.m. (ACCN)
Sept. 13 at South Carolina – 6 or 6:45 p.m. (ESPN or SECN)
Sept. 20 vs. Georgia State – 6:30 p.m. (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
Sept. 27 vs. Utah State – 11:45 a.m. (SECN)
Oct. 4 at Alabama – Flex (2:30-3:30 p.m. OR 5-7 p.m.)
Oct. 18 vs. LSU – Early (11 a.m.-noon)
Oct. 25 vs. Missouri – Flex (2:30-3:30 p.m. OR 5-7 p.m.)
Nov. 1 at Texas – 11 a.m. (ABC or ESPN)
Nov. 8 vs. Auburn – Afternoon (2:30-3:30 p.m.)
Nov. 22 vs. Kentucky – Afternoon (2:30-3:30 p.m.)
Nov. 29 at Tennessee – Afternoon (2:30-3:30 p.m.)

More information on tickets for the Commodores’ 2025 season is available here, while limited seating remains available in the brand-new Commodore Club premium seating in the south end zone.





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Creighton University breaks ground on softball and baseball fields

OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Creighton University leaders and others broke ground, Wednesday on the over 200 thousand square foot softball competition field and baseball practice field. The softball field will have enhanced facilities like a dugout, dedicated bullpen, and a video board. The baseball field will serve not only as a practice field, but as […]

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OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Creighton University leaders and others broke ground, Wednesday on the over 200 thousand square foot softball competition field and baseball practice field.

The softball field will have enhanced facilities like a dugout, dedicated bullpen, and a video board.

The baseball field will serve not only as a practice field, but as a training ground for Omaha youth sports and teams heading to the College World Series.

“The two other important realities are keep helping building Omaha’s urban core and celebrating the relationship with the College World Series which is 75 years strong,” said Creighton University President Rev. Daniel Hendrickson.

The total cost is estimated to be around $30 million.

The estimated completion of the softball field is this fall and the baseball field will be ready in June 2026.

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Campers, instructors mingle during Hancock baseball camp | Youth Sports

As the third day of the first of two Hancock Summer Baseball Camps commenced at Hancock College’s John Osborne Field Wednesday, campers and instructors took part in an enthusiastic game of pickup baseball (actually, the ball was a tennis ball). “Get there, get there!,” an instructor called on a fly ball between two campers. “Call […]

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As the third day of the first of two Hancock Summer Baseball Camps commenced at Hancock College’s John Osborne Field Wednesday, campers and instructors took part in an enthusiastic game of pickup baseball (actually, the ball was a tennis ball).

“Get there, get there!,” an instructor called on a fly ball between two campers. “Call it!, call it!”

“We got two outs!,” an instructor exclaimed, as a camper threw to a fielder on a makeshift second base for a force out.

Hancock head baseball coach Chris Stevens is helping oversee Hancock’s 25th annual edition of the camps this week. There will be a camp next week as well.

The camps are coed. Youngsters ages 5-13 are eligible. 

“We have 36 campers in this camp, and in the camp next week we’re already at 45,” Stevens said.

“Our numbers are down some. Last year we were in the 70’s, up to 90. Average for us is in the 50’s.”

Nonetheless, “It’s been going great,” this year, said Stevens. “Our instructors have been great, and the kids are having a lot of fun.

“We try to keep the kids busy, but we also try to give them some experience.”

Brayden Nunes, 12, and Donny Shiffrar, 11, are veteran Hancock Baseball Camp campers. Nunes has been coming to both winter and summer Hancock camps for six years. Shiffrar has been coming to Hancock winter and summer camps for five.

“I like it that we can learn a bunch more stuff, and that all the kids in the camp are nice,” said Nunes. The right-handed Nunes played shortstop and pitches for the Orcutt American Little League Rangers.

Shiffrar is a right-handed second baseman for the Orcutt National Cardinals.

“What I like most about the camp are the Hancock players,” said Shiffrar. “They’re pretty cool.”

Andrew Sandoval is in his first year of working at a Hancock camp. The freshman Pioneer Valley graduate played shortstop for the Bulldogs this past season.

“I like being out here with the kids and teaching them the right way to play the game,” Sandoval said Wednesday.

“I like seeing them get better. That’s the best part.”



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Campers, instructors mingle during Hancock baseball camp | Youth Sports

As the third day of the first of two Hancock Summer Baseball Camps commenced at Hancock College’s John Osborne Field Wednesday, campers and instructors took part in an enthusiastic game of pickup baseball (actually, the ball was a tennis ball). “Get there, get there!,” an instructor called on a fly ball between two campers. “Call […]

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on


As the third day of the first of two Hancock Summer Baseball Camps commenced at Hancock College’s John Osborne Field Wednesday, campers and instructors took part in an enthusiastic game of pickup baseball (actually, the ball was a tennis ball).

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Why I Became a High School Umpire—Even After Getting Ridiculed Behind the Plate

Yes, I could easily focus solely on the negative, because my worst fears were indeed realized. But I’m not going to in this instance.  This past spring, after years of writing about high school sports for a variety of publications, I decided to try and give back to kids, parents and coaches in another way […]

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Yes, I could easily focus solely on the negative, because my worst fears were indeed realized. But I’m not going to in this instance. 

This past spring, after years of writing about high school sports for a variety of publications, I decided to try and give back to kids, parents and coaches in another way by registering to become an umpire in both baseball and softball. 

I did it despite the horror stories of umpire abuse throughout the country, and sure enough, I endured one of those experiences. 

While working behind home plate, the head coach of one baseball team called time for the sole purpose of berating my strike zone and saying I was responsible for having his pitcher throw more pitches than he should be. 

After calling the next two pitches strikes — because they actually were in my eyes, not based on what the berating coach was saying — the other coach called time to and accused me of changing calls based on the other coach arguing. 

All the while, parents and other fans were giving mock cheers and chiming in with their thoughts loudly. 

There have been other times of ridicule as well, even if not as demonstrative. 

Again though, I’m not here to focus on any of that. For every bad experience, there have been 10 other great ones of players, coaches and parents showing way more support than I expected when starting this venture. 

No doubt, maybe people are fully understanding why there is such a drastic referring shortage nationwide, with the National Federation of State High School Associations reporting that more than 50,000 officials have left the profession since 2018-19. 

It doesn’t matter that there is always work available and the pay is good, whether it’s extra cash to supplement another career, quick money to be made in the midst of a job transition, or a way to make money and stay active in retirement. People are still getting out of it.  

It can’t be understated how much that impacts kids and a multi-billion dollar youth sports industry that pulls in more money than the NFL and MLB combined. 

If there are no officials, there are no games. If there are no games, then the life lessons, opportunities and memories playing sports can offer don’t exist. 

For anyone hesitant to get into refereeing or umpiring, focus on what you are giving back and how much you can impact lives forever. Don’t focus on any potential ridicule or abuse, as it can easily happen anyway in everyday life. 

Much like kids are taught to learn from mistakes and simply work to get better, the same logic can apply to people getting into refereeing or umpiring for the first time. Spend time to get experience and learn the craft. It can actually feel good to be on the same wavelength as the kids in that regard in that we are all learning and striving to be better every day. 

Even with the ridicule that can be received during the process, from my experience, don’t quit that easily.

The reward of giving back to kids and communities and ensuring they are soaking in all that sports have to offer is way greater. 

Because of that, people can ridicule me all they want. I’m going to battle and fight for these kids no matter what going forward. 

If anyone is thinking about taking the plunge and getting into refereeing or umpiring, you can do the same. Don’t let the potential of abuse win. Kids, families and communities are counting on it. 



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