Dodgers seating gives Agoura's baseball field a stadium feel

What began as a possibility- based on an announcement by the Los Angeles Dodgers that their stadium would be renovated after the '05 season-is now a reality at the Agoura High baseball field.

As the Dodgers removed all the seats from their stadium during the off season, high schools and colleges across the Southland got the word and quickly began making arrangements to obtain and transport the seats to the various campuses.

Meanwhile, the Chargers were at a winter league baseball game at Reseda playing the Cleveland High Cavaliers, and Agoura coach Scott Deck observed that work was being done to make the field ready for new seats.

"They were doing all this work behind their home plate," Deck said. "Their coaches said they were getting these Dodgers' seats, so I tried to pursue that."

Deck talked with Sam Aronow, a Dodger ticket holder for 24 years and a friend of Ron Cey, the Dodgers third baseman from 1971-82, and others in the Dodger organization.

"That pointed us in the right direction," Deck said.

Aronow then contacted Cey.

"He got back to me the next day with a contact at the stadium and they agreed to donate as many seats as we would need," Aronow said.

Deck said that several parents and friends went down to Dodger Stadium and picked up the seats. The group included Aronow, Ed Keller, Russ Sharp, junior varsity coach Stefan Valentino and Matt Aronow, Aronow's son who is a shortstop on the freshman team.

"It was one of those things where you have to sort through all of the seats to find the better ones," he said.

Aronow said when the group returned to Agoura with a few seats, he thought of the idea to build a mini stadium.

"I called and asked for more seats and the Dodgers agreed," Aronow said. "Back we went, and we got enough seats to build it."

Valentino said that three pickup truckloads piled high were relocated from Dodger Stadium to Agoura High.

"It looked like 'The Beverly Hillbillies,'" he said. "We went down two different Saturdays and picked that stuff up. We had to kind of dismantle some stuff.

"The seats came in sections of twos and threes. We loaded that stuff up with about four of us-parent helpers and myself. We took everything and dismantled it."

The new stadium has at least 50 of the former Field Box gold padded 21and 22-inch wide seats with the names of Agoura's season seat holders-at $25 each- being mounted on the seats.

Aronow said he built the stadium with the ultimate goal of selling the seats as Agoura High season seats to parents, fans and baseball lovers.

"What we are hoping to do for next year is raise funds," Aronow said. "This would be a fundraiser where we would sell season tickets and the parents or fans can buy the seats and the school can generate dollars year after year."

Aronow said that while it started out as something small in

February, it actually turned out to be a monster of an undertaking, and after a few games had been played at the stadium, he said that it turned out to be a great project.

Jim O'Connell broke down the seats so a powder coat in Charger Blue could be put on the metal and hardware parts.

Richard Marty of Tortoise Industries provided his company's help to powder-coat the seats to make them weather resistant.

In addition to O'Connell and Marty, Aronow called other friends who work in the concrete and hardscape business. They all helped design the stadium. A seating company that puts seats in major stadiums reassembled the seats and mounted them in the cement.

"It took three big, full trucks of concrete and more time than I had ever thought to make this a reality," Aronow said.

He said the stadium project would not have been possible if it were not for Deck's dedication.

"Deck has put in endless hours and energy, making the Agoura baseball field something we can all be proud of," Aronow said.

Also instrumental on the Agoura High staff were coaches Valentino and Charlie Hirsh.

"Without them I would never have taken on this project," Aronow said. He said that while the stadium

is one tier now with the snack bar behind the seats, it may be necessary to move the snack bar back to accommodate two tiers.

The stadium might also be expanded on the sides. Aronow said there are a few extra seats that can be added.