Softball stymied — Sports organizations must come to an agreement
The Newcastle City Council denied a memorandum of understanding presented by the Newcastle Youth Softball Association after concerns were raised by both the Newcastle Soccer League and Newcastle Little League.
The MOU was first presented by Ashley Tupper on behalf of the Newcastle Youth Softball Association on March 3. The document stated that the association would have first right of refusal to Field 2 at the sports complex from April 1 to Aug. 31.
She said at the time that the association had to guarantee the use of a field for games if they wanted to join the softball league in the Black Hills.
The MOU was discussed again on March 17 after being tabled on March 3. Both the Newcastle Soccer League and Newcastle Little League attended the meeting to share concerns with the council.
Speaking on behalf of the soccer league, Jennifer Lipp-Oster stated that after hearing about the proposed MOU, the league has concerns over the impact the MOU would have on U6 and U8 soccer.
“If you take Field 2 away from the soccer league, you are impacting 42 children, 8 years and younger,” Lipp-Oster said.
She noted that the league has spent hours coming up with a schedule that uses space in the outfield of Field 2 for games and practices beginning the end of March. Lipp-Oster said that the league has always worked with the baseball teams to use the space for two weeks in May.
“The Newcastle Soccer League feels it is unfair that the softball association is requesting a five-month exclusive access to the field for a six-week season,” she said.
Sara Whipple, also with the soccer league, noted that it had been suggested that the younger children could have soccer at local parks, but she said that a lack of storage and equipment at those locations would make it difficult.
Lipp-Oster further asserted that the soccer league has always worked with the other organizations that use the field.
“Not once have we demanded exclusive use of a public space for five months for a six-week season,” she said, acknowledging that there is a limited amount of public space for “this type of programming.”
“We don’t want to put the softball association out, but we don’t think it should be at the detriment of other programs,” Lipp-Oster said.
Mayor Tyrel Owens shared the thoughts of Bryan Mefford for the local baseball association, stating that Mefford was not comfortable with the language in the MOU. He continued that Mefford thinks that the different organizations can work together to provide opportunities for kids.
Owens noted that Mefford also mentioned that some of the practices could be held at the local parks if the bases were not needed.
The council suggested that the three groups work together to come up with a solution that works for everyone. Tupper, on the other hand, urged the council to approve the MOU to secure a place for softball to have games, practices and hold clinics.
Tupper explained that after years of hearing about the desire for softball in Newcastle, she hosted a clinic last summer and 18 girls showed up. Seeing the interest, the association opened registration on March 1 and already had nearly 30 girls signed up, with another couple of weeks to go before registration closed.
“I feel it also displaces those girls who haven’t had a chance,” Tupper said, noting that the association has also put in the work to become a 501(c)3. She said that, given the history of softball in Newcastle, the association felt a formal document was required, and noted that she did not believe they are not asking for exclusive rights to the facility.
When asked his opinion on the MOU, City Attorney Dublin Hughes said that he was concerned with the language and that the way it is written, which indicated the softball association is asking for exclusive rights to the field.
Owens said that he is excited to have softball coming to the community but that there needs to be some collaboration and some adjustments to the document. He noted that the city doesn’t have “huge” facilities and that he doesn’t imagine there will be the ability to add space in the future.
To make that space work, Owens said it is going to take a lot of effort and work from the three boards to make it happen.
“It is a bummer you are the new kids on the block. You are going to have to do the best you can to get this figured out,” he said.
Councilman Don Steveson further touched on the difficulty ahead but said there are solutions, although he acknowledged that conditions for the first year may not be exactly what the softball league needs. He said there is going to have to be some give and take.
Lipp-Oster did state that if the soccer league had known about the MOU and need for Field 2 earlier, they could have worked it out internally. But without notice, she said, the schedule and field layout is already set for spring 2025. She said that the issue can be worked out in the future.
“My concern is the season that starts in two weeks,” Lipp-Oster said, noting that the soccer league needs a decision on whether or not it can use the field.
Tupper again asked the council to consider passing the MOU and stated that the softball league would like a regulatory entity to be involved in the negotiations for the field.
Councilman Tom Voss made a motion to accept the MOU, noting he was doing so strictly for discussion purposes. He then said that he would like the three groups to work together and come back with another proposal.
“Give us a new MOU, then the agreement becomes the guarantee,” Voss said.
The council then voted against the motion to approve the MOU.
“With that, it is back to the drawing board for now,” Owens said.
City Beats
Notes from the March 17, 2025, meeting of the Newcastle City Council
Kevin Allen, a new reserve officer for Newcastle Police Department, was sworn in.
Owens referenced starting a Boys & Girls Club in Newcastle, stating that it might be possible to form an entity under the umbrella of Gillette’s organization.
Public Works Supervisor Greg Stumpff told the council that the streets committee had discussed sending letters to property owners who are not following snow-removal policies before ticketing them.
Stumpff also reported the committee was in support of moving the Farmers Market downtown in 2025.
Owens requested council support to remove the law enforcement parking signs near the Newcastle City Hall. A motion in favor of removing the signs was approved.
Councilman Don Steveson reported that the water committee met to discuss the water agreement with Cambria Improvement District. A motion to direct City Attorney Dublin Hughes to draft an amendment carried.
Police Chief Derek Thompson reported that he has received conflicting reports on the condition of the roof at City Hall and that he would have proposals from two companies in the near future.
The council held an executive session referencing litigation. After the session, the council approved a motion to take no action regarding litigation with former police chief Chuck Bowles at this time.