POULSBO — A brand new, state-of-the-art scoreboard at Snider park was dedicated Saturday and used for the first time during the Little League’s Major A Division finals following the ceremony.

The scoreboard’s true christening, however, had to wait until players took the field and Kregg Hoover, DDS shortstop Trevor Bennett came to the plate.

Bennett crushed a pitch over the center field wall, nailing the new score board for a game winning home run. And the crowd — even those attending to support the team from Tim Ryan Construction against whom Kregg Hoover was playing — erupted in laughter and applause as the ball smacked loudly off the board.

Thus, a proper christening.

The addition, a gift from EHL Insurance and Safeco Insurance, is part of a $1.5 million donation by the latter organization to install 82 scoreboards nationwide. For EHL vice-president Rich Hecker, the board represents a new tie with the community and his company.

“This new electronic scoreboard will tell kids that they are a little more important than they thought they were,” Hecker said at the ceremony.

Poulsbo Mayor Donna Jean Bruce was also present at the dedication. Bruce mentioned that the community involvement at Snider has made the field facility what it has become today.

“I’m someone who grew up in this area and I’ve seen this place grow from just a couple of fields,” Bruce said. “This is a real asset to the community.”

Bruce added that the day of the christening was proclaimed by the Poulsbo City Council as “A day to play ball.”

Hecker also said that EHL had been looking for ways to give back to its Poulsbo community for some time, stating it is in the company’s mission statement to do so.

“We firmly believe as an organization that without the community and business support, we couldn’t be here,” he said. “We’re just making the right choice (in giving back).”

Marian Phillips, after whom the field was named, was invited to turn on the scoreboard for the first time. After a few minutes of “technical difficulties” the red, electronic letters flickered to life and the Little League championship was under way.

Sponsors of the new board include, Safeco, EHL and American Marine Bank. By JOSH FARLEY

Staff Writer

POULSBO — A brand new, state-of-the-art scoreboard at Snider park was dedicated Saturday and used for the first time during the Little League’s Major A Division finals following the ceremony.

The scoreboard’s true christening, however, had to wait until players took the field and Kregg Hoover, DDS shortstop Trevor Bennett came to the plate.

Bennett crushed a pitch over the center field wall, nailing the new score board for a game winning home run. And the crowd — even those attending to support the team from Tim Ryan Construction against whom Kregg Hoover was playing — erupted in laughter and applause as the ball smacked loudly off the board.

Thus, a proper christening.

The addition, a gift from EHL Insurance and Safeco Insurance, is part of a $1.5 million donation by the latter organization to install 82 scoreboards nationwide. For EHL vice-president Rich Hecker, the board represents a new tie with the community and his company.

“This new electronic scoreboard will tell kids that they are a little more important than they thought they were,” Hecker said at the ceremony.

Poulsbo Mayor Donna Jean Bruce was also present at the dedication. Bruce mentioned that the community involvement at Snider has made the field facility what it has become today.

“I’m someone who grew up in this area and I’ve seen this place grow from just a couple of fields,” Bruce said. “This is a real asset to the community.”

Bruce added that the day of the christening was proclaimed by the Poulsbo City Council as “A day to play ball.”

Hecker also said that EHL had been looking for ways to give back to its Poulsbo community for some time, stating it is in the company’s mission statement to do so.

“We firmly believe as an organization that without the community and business support, we couldn’t be here,” he said. “We’re just making the right choice (in giving back).”

Marian Phillips, after whom the field was named, was invited to turn on the scoreboard for the first time. After a few minutes of “technical difficulties” the red, electronic letters flickered to life and the Little League championship was under way.

Sponsors of the new board include, Safeco, EHL and American Marine Bank.