Whittier Tech Carpentry, Masonry Students Build New School Baseball Dugouts

Juniors Kyle McCoy of Newburyport and Kayla MacNeill of Salisbury lay bricks for the dugout’s block walls. (Photo courtesy of Whittier Tech)

Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School’s junior varsity baseball team is one step closer to its spring season thanks to new dugouts built by their peers.

Thirty-five students in the Tech’s carpentry and masonry programs came together over the last two months to survey the land, pour concrete foundations, mix mortar and build block walls for the 10-foot by 30-foot huts.

The project has been put on hold given recent snow and freezing temperatures, but remains on track to be ready for first pitch. “There is a sense of urgency to get this done before we’re in the depths of winter,” carpentry teacher Earl Corr said. “As it gets colder, we may have to build the wooden structures inside in pieces and then bring them out.”

Students operate a generator to power electric tools for the project. (Photo courtesy of Whittier Tech)

Sophomores, juniors and seniors from Haverhill, Groveland, Ipswich, Merrimac, Newburyport and West Newbury have lent their time and talents to the project.

“It’s great to spend the day working outside,” Haverhill senior Tom Benedetti said. “It’s satisfying to be able to start and finish a project that will be used by athletes and coaches for many years.”

This is the third set of dugouts built by students in recent years. The project was made possible in part by a donation from Ipswich’s Joset Corporation, which supplied hardware and lent concrete pouring forms.