PITTSBURGH PIRATES’ Charities and St. Clairsville Junior Sports have teamed up to produce a grand slam.

As a result, young softball and baseball performers in the St. Clairsville area will be taking the field under much nicer playing conditions. That is due to the two aforementioned organizations joining hands to land a “Fields For Kids” grant.

St. C. Junior Sports is just one of nine entities to secure a grant through the Pirates’ Charities program. The matching monies will yield more than $9,000 in much-needed facelifts to the Hilltop diamonds.

The project is expected to commence in August. The work will target such things as dugout repairs and an improved and much more expansive drainage system.

Once those two projects are completed the playing surface will get an upgrade with the placement of turface. All the work should be completed for the spring season.

The “Fields for Kids” program has proven to be a most generous undertaking. So far this year alone, it has doled out more than $80,000 with still one more grant period remaining.

St. C. Junior Sports coach Tom Morrison applied for the grant in May. We commend him for his vision and commitment to youth.

We also send our kudos to Pirates’ Charities for opening up its coffers to aid area youngsters. St. C. Junior Sports is also in line for its share of commendations as it stepped to the plate to match the monies being awarded by the Pirates’ program.

Youth is the foundation of our future. Pirates’ Charities an St. C. Junior Sports are working together to strengthen that foundation.