Coaches, parents and Wood Creek Little League urge pause on proposed Mahey Park field conversion

Mike Sher, a Wood Creek High coach, urged the Roseville Joint Union High School District board to pause plans to convert a boys varsity baseball field into a varsity softball field, saying the change would displace players and require extensive, costly upgrades.

"We're being told it's going to be taken away without any discussion," Sher said, listing improvements he said would be required — new dugouts, backstops, sprinklers, DSA approvals and other infrastructure — and noting the baseball program has raised more than $10,000 recently to maintain field standards.

A parent read a letter from Matt Gilbert, president of Wood Creek Little League, saying Mahey Park is used six days a week by more than 600 families and is "in no way close to being adequate for high school level baseball." The letter warned that revamping the park to meet high-school standards would be wasteful if the field remained shared by recreational leagues and the general public.

Debbie Nerson, a parent of varsity and junior baseball players, asked the board for greater transparency and "creative problem solving," and questioned whether the district has planned or budgeted for dedicated softball fields across high schools. "My ask today is just again that we as you make this decision ... think about how we can solve this problem," she said.

Earlier in the public-comment period, a parent whose freshman son plays three sports said missing PE for games has hurt his grade; district staff told the speaker they would follow up with the site to seek a resolution.

Board members did not take immediate action on the Mahey Park or Wood Creek field requests during public comment. The speakers asked the board to pause implementation and engage in discussions with the baseball program, Little League and other stakeholders to evaluate facility standards, shared-use logistics, safety requirements and costs before any conversion proceeds.