Residents say baseballs still causing danger

The Laguna Beach Unified School District board of trustees agreed Tuesday night to schedule a second public meeting to discuss neighbors’ concerns about baseballs flying out of Laguna Beach High School’s baseball field.

The issue was previously discussed during a special meeting in early February with officials, including Principal Joanne Culverhouse and baseball Coach Mike Bair, saying they would look into the problem and agreeing to a few changes.

School administrators said then that they would limit the time that players can take full swings at the high school field, and that players could use the batting cages to practice their hitting.

But residents say they are still living with what they consider a dangerous situation.

Two residents on St. Ann’s Drive told district board members they have collected hundreds of balls in the past few months and urged trustees and the district to work with them to find a solution.

Stephen Crawford and neighbor David Nelson live beyond left field and said the field is too short and is unable to contain hitters’ blasts.

Crawford’s attorney drafted a complaint that alleges negligence, nuisance and trespassing, but is not a lawsuit, Crawford said.

Crawford was confused when he saw the item listed as “denial of claim” on the school board agenda.

“I was not prepared to address this as an agenda item,” Crawford told the board. “I wasn’t even aware until I got a call from a reporter last night. We were not able to put together a group of neighbors who want to speak on this issue in a public forum. There are lots of them [residents]. We do not want to file a lawsuit. We want to be heard.”

District staff interpreted the complaint as a claim, said Assistant Supt. of Business Services Dean West. The complaint’s cover letter says, “Notice of Claim against the Laguna Beach USD,” according to a copy provided by the district.

“That looks like a claim,” West wrote in an email. “All claims against the district are handled through our insurance by a third party administrator.”

Balls have flown over the fence with regularity since the field was reconfigured seven years ago, Nelson said, adding that one landed a foot from him and several others hit his house. Nine balls landed on his property in one day, he said.

Nelson, holding a ball in his hand, pounded a desk to imitate the sound a ball makes when it strikes the ground or a car.

“If a ball could shatter a windshield, imagine what it would do to the human body,” Nelson said. “The field is too small. The [high school] coach agrees with me and the players agree with me. We need to do something. You guys have a serious public safety problem.

“What if something happens, someone gets hit? The incident was initiated on [district] property, but the accident takes place on a sidewalk or street. Who is liable? It’s not if it happens, it is when it happens. Two of my tenants were almost hit.”

Crawford said the district “ignored” the situation after the discussion in February.

Board President Jan Vickers said that is not the case.

“Joanne Culverhouse is very concerned about this issue as is Dean West and Ted Doughty [district facilities director],” Vickers said, adding that this issue came up during a recent facilities committee meeting.

“I know what a great concern it is.”

The baseball team has taken steps to limit the number of balls heading out of the field during practice, Culverhouse said in a phone interview Wednesday. Players either go in a batting cage or place a shell around home plate to catch balls, she said.

“We have reduced the number of home runs significantly,” Culverhouse said. “Kids are not standing at the plate trying to hit home runs.”

The only time during practice when players are in position to hit balls out of the park is when they mimic game situations, Culverhouse said.

Crawford, who said that nine balls landed in his yard during a practice last week, suggested the city-owned field at Alta Laguna Park as a possible solution.

“There is no reason you can’t put money into the field and make it the home base for the baseball team,” Crawford said. “I know it’s an inconvenience for the kids to go up [to Alta Laguna] and play baseball. It’s not like playing baseball in your backyard. It’s just a matter of time before someone gets hurt and someone gets hurt seriously. Believe me, if you had a baseball come 12 inches within your head you would be freaked out too.”

Alta Laguna could pose problems, Vickers said in a phone interview Wednesday.

“There could be a liability issue with kids driving with other kids [instead of riding together in a bus],” Vickers said. “And I don’t know what condition that field is in. When we have a field at the school, we look first for solutions there.”

Culverhouse said she will meet with Bair, Laguna Beach High School Athletic Director Mike Churchill and district personnel to discuss options.