IRON RIVER—In spring, a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of baseball, so it’s not surprising West Iron County senior John Markham is pitching his Eagle Scout project toward the dugout.

John will be working on repairs at the Joe Sabol Field in Caspian with a tentative date for completion set sometime in May, in time for some major play at the field later this spring and summer.

“I’ll be fixing the dugouts, bleachers, the storage shed at the Caspian ball field,” said John.

His decision to focus his Eagle Scout project on the ball field came through discussions with Joe Sabol, Caspian city commissioner.

“I talked with Joe and asked him if there were any Caspian projects that needed to be done,” said John.

Sabol was only too happy to oblige the young scout.

All Eagle Scout projects are aimed at helping out a community with a special need. The projects are also aimed at helping the scout to develop leadership qualities by having them submit a plan and motivate others to see that plan’s completion.

For his project, John will need siding for the dugouts and paint for the storage shed and bleachers.

A lot of siding will be needed for the two dugouts, he said, because of some deterioration on the exterior of the structures. T1-11 siding is required, he noted. The dugouts measure 4-feet by 20-feet.

Anyone who can help with donations either materials or funds to purchase the materials; or anyone with paint, or black asphalt shingles can contact John at 265-3635.

“The project is to start within a couple of weeks,” said John, “and should only take a weekend worth of work to complete.”

A lot of the manpower will be coming from his fellow scouts, he said.

After the project is completed, John will be compiling all of the information to submit to the Hiawathland Boy Scout Council as the next step in his effort to receive his Eagle Scout award.

John has been a scout since joining the Bobcats at the age of 7.

Following graduation this May, John plans to attend Michigan Tech to obtain a degree in psychology.