The National High School Baseball Coaches Association named Gagliano Field, Lausanne's baseball park, Regional Field Of The Year. With that award, it is now in the running for the National title.
Gagliano Field was built in 1967 as a co-op between the City of Memphis and American Legion Baseball. It is named after the legendary coach, Tony Gagliano. Tony coached the Bill Speros team, which consisted of some of the most talented high school players in the Memphis area, of which more than two dozen went on to play at the professional level.
Today, Gagliano field is run and operated by Lausanne Collegiate School. Gagliano is currently the host field for the FCA Tournament, The Hagan Tournament, City Schools Regional Play, Middle School Coaches League, High School Fall League and is also host to 20 to 25 travel ball tournaments. Additionally, it is home to Lausanne Collegiate School's JV and Varsity teams.
The field, maintained by Lausanne's head baseball coach Chris Mitchell, is a labor of love.
"For me personally it has been an absolute pleasure restoring this old historic field," Mitchell said. "Thinking back to playing here in high school, then several years in the men's league and now coaching here, I have been on this field in some capacity for 30 years now. In 2016 when we secured Gagliano Field to be Lausanne's home field, I knew it was going to be a long road ahead to get 'Gag' back into playing shape."
It was a project Mitchell knew would take time but says he is willing to put in the effort to get the field to where he knows it can be.
"We originally started with the infield playing surface and have just continued every year to expand and now with the completion of the dugouts, outfield wall, backstop and new scoreboard the old field is starting to look pretty new again," Mitchell said. "We still have several projects ahead but being recognized by the NHSBCA is an incredible honor and just makes all those long days a little more worth it!"
The National Field Of The Year awards will be given on December 3 in Scottsdale, Arizona, at the National High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Banquet and Convention.