NOVEMBER 26, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5
selected to run the complex.
“It's a unique opportunity, and I really
appreciate Jerry for selecting me. For me,
it's about being visible. What makes me
a good fi t for this opportunity is because
we have a legacy together. His reputation
and legacy and experience through base-
ball is being community oriented,” Paul
said. "I'm glad I still get to be a part of a
baseball community. It doesn't matter if
it's a half-block away or halfway around
the world. I want to represent the com-
munity as best as I can.”
Paul was out of baseball for four sea-
sons before returning in 1995 to play in
the independent Western League until
1998. He then played professionally in
Mexico, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan
Paul played for the Salinas Spurs in the Seattle Mariners organization in 1990.
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until 2005. He then returned to inde-
pendent ball before retiring as a player
in 2005 — which was the same year Paul
started Northwestern Baseball Academy,
a high school and college prep program
for baseball and softball players.
Paul also spent time coaching and
scouting in Taiwan and Japan.
His fi rst experience with organizing
tournaments and managing fi elds began
in Sherman Park in Canada, working
with the parks and recreation depart-
ment to help with lawn care and mani-
curing fi elds. Paul had a similar job in
Vancouver, Wash., where he would coor-
dinate camps and maintain facilities.
Paul believes that his past experience
will be benefi cial as he begins his new
gig.
“The routine isn't much diff erent. We
had to manage eight fi elds and make
sure they were manicured and taken care
of,” Paul said.
Currently, Paul is in the winterization
process at Keizer Little League Park, pre-
paring the fi elds for ballplayers' return in
March.
“There are plenty of things to do
around here, it's just a matter of putting
the ducks in the pond,” Paul said.
One of the aspects of the job that
Paul is most looking forward to is seeing
youth players learn and grow. But he also
is hoping to receive feedback from par-
ents and community members on what
he could do to help the park run better.
“I just want to be on the fi eld everyday
and see players transform and get bet-
ter. I want to be around the facility often
because I will kind of be the face of this
place,” Paul said. “I want to be visible,
available and responsive to the needs of
the city,”
With the City of Keizer agreeing to a
10-year contract with For the Love of the
Game, Mickey Walker has high hopes
of one day bringing turf to the complex.
Paul, on the other hand, has even bigger
aspirations, including exploring the pos-
sibility of one day bringing a dome to the
complex — yes, you read that right.
“Shoot for the moon. I don't know if
it's feasibility or timing. But if you have
a community that is that committed,
there's no reason it can't happen. I think
it would defi nitely add value to Keizer
and Salem,” Paul said. “I want to have
facilities people will appreciate.
“I have been to a number of places
throughout the world where facilities had
a dome stadium. It doesn't get any better.
You can do all kinds of things, RV shows,
concerts, even football.”
Paul says that there would have to be
some large donors that make the dream
of a dome into a reality, but the benefi ts of
a world class facility would be immense.
“If we could gain that kind of status
in this neighborhood, I think we should
defi nitely look into it,” Paul said.
Regardless if he can fulfi ll some
ambitious dreams, Paul's main focus is
to make Keizer Little League Park a pos-
itive place for kids, regardless of age or
skill-level.
“We want to create an atmosphere
and experience for these players,” Paul
said. “I think it's only fair that we put out
something that will be pleasing to peo-
ple. We're going to be optimistic and put
everything we can into it.”