Canton McKinley baseball making most of new-look Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium

CANTON − At Don Scott Field, "going yard" didn't mean socking one over the fence.

The McKinley Bulldogs' old ball yard had no fence.

A home run entailed a blast past the outfielders and a mad dash around the bases.

"We called them Don Scotters," said Zak Zelmer, an ex-McKinley player who is head coach now.

"There was only one Don Scott Field," Zelmer said, thinking back to the neighborhood setting, the dirt infield and the clump of trees behind the backstop. "No other high school field looked like it."

The 2023 Bulldogs play at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium. Given its 5,000-seat grandstand and a $5 million renovation, no other high school venue looks like it, either.

Munson Stadium has an outfield fence that is 325 feet down the lines and 400 to dead center. Hitting one out might be called a Thurmanator.

One aim of the renovation was to energize Canton's high school baseball program in the process of saving the stadium.

"Already, I really do think it is paying dividends," Zelmer said. "I'm seeing the development of our kids more and more as this project has come together."

More on Munson Stadium: How major overhaul of Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium is working out, one year later

McKinley didn't win a Federal League game last year. The 2023 Bulldogs were 4-2 in the league after last week's sweep of Lake.

"I think there's more of that to come," said Jim Hilton, McKinley's junior varsity coach. "Our kids walk out on these two fields and say, wow, this is where we get to play and where we get to train."

The stadium offers two lighted fields entirely covered by artificial turf and fit for use in all but the worst weather. A big red building features batting cages available year round.

A tunnel from the first-base dugout leads past a new coaches office to a new varsity locker room. A second new locker room is used by the junior varsity.

Munson's two fields will play host to about 700 games for various age groups this year. McKinley has first dibs on scheduling.

Jim Hilton, the aforementioned junior varsity coach, was hired last year to manage the stadium. He takes care of scheduling and operations from an office under the grandstand.

Hilton has a background in managing baseball facilities and leagues. His background as a McKinley catcher is tied to appreciating Thurman Munson, who became a Yankees catcher and captain, an all-star and a league MVP after playing for Canton Lehman.

Hilton's last at-bat as a Bulldog was a home run in a district tournament game at Munson, when the field was grass.

This rubbed off on catcher Nik Hilton, Jim's son, who transferred to McKinley this year after playing for Central Catholic as a freshman.

Nik Hilton wears Munson's number, 15.

"Every day, you notice that No. 15 all over the ballpark," Nik Hilton said. "My great grandfather was from the Bronx. I was in old Yankee Stadium when I was too little to remember it. I've been in new Yankee Stadium. You really get a feel for Thurman Munson there.

"He was a hard-nosed baller. That's what I want to be."

The 2023 Bulldogs got on a roll.

Starting pitchers Charles Parsons, Savian Wilkins and Tony Wood Jr. entered the week with earned run averages below 1.40. In the batting order, Andrew Fawver, Zach Stokoe, Nik Hilton and Champ Knox all were above or near .300.

"We're able to get on two all-turf baseball fields," Zelmer said. "If it rains all day and stops, we're able to get on. Our kids have access to the indoor facility year round.

"Don Scott was close to the high school. The accessibility was wonderful. The thing was, how many days could you get on Don Scott?"

"Munson Stadium is unbelieveable in many ways," said GlenOak head coach Ray Frisbee, whose Golden Eagles beat McKinley on Thursday at Munson. "One is that turf field. The ball bounces the way it should and makes for a clean game.

"That's a dream if you have a really good defensive infield, which we do."

The 2023 Bulldogs have their dreams.

"If we dedicate ourselves to playing the way we can, I really think we can win districts," Nik Hilton said. "State would be an absolute dream. I've always had a dream of winning states."

Reach Steve at steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @sdoerschukREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium is home to Canton McKinley baseball