Training Completed, Committeeman Ready to Keep Score Sunday

Township Committeeman Ziad Andrew Shehady, who volunteered to be trained in order to work the scoreboard in time for Springfield recreation leagues' final home games Sunday, received the required training Friday morning and is ready to keep score. 

At the same time, Township employee Danielle McLeer was trained as well. The two will share the duties Sunday, with Shehady working the first two games and McLeer serving for the second. 

A longtime champion of the new athletic complex, Shehady stepped up Thursday afternoon and said he'd be willing to learn the ropes after parents cried foul regarding the inability to use the scoreboard and public address system at past Sunday games. 

Springfield Schools Superintendent and Board Secretary Matt Clarke said Wednesday afternoon they have been trying for weeks to find an employee of the Township of Springfield or the Springfield school district to work the scoreboard, as the person needs to be insured by either entity to protect the $3 million complex, but had been unable to secure a volunteer.

Shehady said, while he doesn't have children himself, he recognizes the importance of the games to parents and players.

"This definitely means a lot to the community and I’d hate to see their first season on the new field be a sour experience," he said.