GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Greensboro Grasshoppers stadium will be the new home for the Grimsley High School baseball teams in 2023.
The new Kiser Middle School is expected to be built on the current site of the Grimsley High School baseball and softball fields, leaving the team without a place to practice and play.
"I’m feeling extremely appreciative," said Grimsley High School Athletics Director Ethan Albright. "The Grasshoppers stepping up to make this available to us is very exciting for our community. We’ve had a great field here for a number of years. There’s been a lot of anxiety about where we’re going to go what we’re (going to) do while we are waiting for the new facility to be built, but this helps us in the short term get there."
The Whirlies will have their first practice at the First National Bank Field on February 14 and have their first home game on February 28.
"For us, being a big part of the community (...) we want to be stewards of the community and support those in need," said Donald Moore, President and General Manager of the Greensboro Grasshoppers. "What a great opportunity to take a bad situation and turn it into a great one for these young men and now all of a sudden they can play in a professional facility. They can practice here, and hopefully (it's) something they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.
For the Grimsley community, losing the field has been difficult.
"It's tough and emotional," said Jason Simmons, the head baseball coach for Grimsley High School ."I've been here a long time and losing the field and the work that we put in here, it's been hard to handle internally. But we've got to move forward and we're moving on and the gratitude that I have for this opportunity and the players and the families of those players I'm very grateful for that because that's what it's about."
Goode Van Slyke Architecture officials said in March that they have not been solicited to design new baseball fields yet. Good Van Slyke officials said there is room to put fields on the current site of Brooks Global Studies Magnet School, which is being torn down and rebuilt on the site of the old Craven Elementary School on Parkwood Drive. Those fields could potentially be finished by the spring of 2025.
Moore said he expects the Grasshoppers to support the Whirlies in the meantime, but any partnership past 2023 will depend on scheduling.
In March, Guilford County School officials said they planned to partner with Greensboro Parks and Recreation on a three-year shared use agreement to use city facilities.
In June, the Grimsley High School Athletics Booster Club President shared some potential locations where other teams could play. GCS said Tuesday they are still finalizing the details for other sports teams impacted by the changes.