If you're one of the estimated 4,000 cars that pass Riley Field daily, located at the intersection of County and Nashua Roads near Bedford High School, you've probably noticed the newly resurrected fieldhouse behind home plate. The new structure and dugouts are fully funded by private donations and generous sponsorships from local businesses, and Phase 1 of the project has now been completed.

Friends of Bedford Baseball, a group formed by a handful of Bedford-based baseball enthusiasts, continues to fundraise in hopes of realizing the full vision of the project. Future plans include adding a concessions kitchen, equipment storage, and meeting space for scorekeepers, umpires, coaches, and teams.

The original Twarog Fieldhouse was built in the early 1980s by Babe Ruth Baseball volunteers and was dedicated to the Twarog family for their years of leadership and service. When Babe Ruth Baseball left Bedford due to temporary field closures for improvements, the dedicated coaches, parents, and volunteers who maintained the fieldhouse largely departed as well. According to the Town of Bedford's field use policy, individual leagues are responsible for maintaining any structures located outside the fences of town-maintained fields. As such, the structure fell into disrepair.

Despite this, Riley Field, owned by the Town of Bedford, remains in excellent condition. It is currently used by Bedford Legion Post 54, BHS JV and Freshman teams, and the New England Legends Baseball League. While the field sees plenty of use, there had been no single, dedicated entity to spearhead a project of this scale—until now.

In October of 2022, Dawn-Marie Hutchinson created a GoFundMe drive to draw support for a rebuild of the fieldhouse in honor of her step-father, David Gamans, a longtime Bedford resident.

"My siblings and I will also take comfort in knowing the peckish sports fans of Bedford can still get a snack because of our dad. Such a beautiful legacy for such a beautiful man," wrote Hutchinson. 

The GoFundMe garnered over $4,000 in his honor and was the seed money to get the project started. A plaque in Gaman's honor will be placed on the building.

Friends of Bedford Baseball raised over $150,000 in the first nine months of their campaign through a combination of donations, engraved bricks, gift card sales, and sponsorship agreements for signage on the new building and fencing. The group's mission is to support the construction, refurbishment, and upkeep of baseball structures like dugouts and fieldhouses across various town fields, beginning with the Twarog Fieldhouse rebuild.

Greg Rehm of Liberty Hill Construction joined the effort and donated his time and expertise to design a building that fits seamlessly into the aesthetic of the surrounding homes, making it a true point of pride for the community.

London Family Orthodontics was the first major sponsor, funding the construction of the third base dugout and supporting additional elements of the rebuild. "We are truly blessed that our business provides us an avenue to be a member of this community," said Alex London. "We are motivated by the idea that our boys will be able to see their parents' commitment to community for years to come on their way to school and sports!"

Braasch Oral Surgery sponsored the first base dugout. Andrade Management, owners of seventeen local Dunkin' Donuts locations and sponsors of the original building, have returned with a generous sponsorship that includes a significant signage upgrade. Great NH Restaurants, owners of Copper Door and T-Bones, made a sizable donation and will be sponsoring the new scoreboard. BEI Networks, owned by Bedford's Bruno family, has sponsored a new sound system.

Other major sponsors include BASC Imaging, Bedford Bulldogs Athletic Boosters Club, Bedford Lions Club, Bedford Village Inn, Jenn Delisle with Luxe Realty, Manchester Country Club, Purnell Brothers Landscaping, and Vachon Dental.

Residents looking to support the final phase of the project can purchase an engraved brick for the patio, sponsor a bench or new stands, or buy gift cards to Copper Door and T-Bones. There is still space available along the first and third baselines for local businesses interested in signage opportunities.

For more information or to get involved, visit www.rileyfield.com or email questions to info@rileyfield.com.