UPPER KITTITAS COUNTY
YOUTH BASEBALL / SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION
UKCYBA was formed to provide baseball and later softball for youth (5-12) in the Upper County to be played in an
organized, safe and fun manner. Players would be taught skills, sportsmanship, team play, and comradery with their
coaches and fellow players.
UKCYBA was formed in October of 1986 with elections of officers (3) and appointments of 4 trustees, each nominated
by their individual fire department.
In June of 1987, all necessary paperwork required to be recognized as a non-profit entity in the State of Washington
was completed and thence officially recognized as an Association.
We began looking at existing fields in the Cities of Cle Elum and Roslyn and what could be done to make them safer
and better suited for our clientele in 1990.
In 1992, UKCYBA approached the City of Cle Elum about development of 5 ball fields at Memorial Field, south of the
Yakima River.
In October of 1992, Cle Elum City Council made a motion to establish a Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission.
At the end of October 1992, Cle Elum City Council named 7 members to the Advisory Board. These included 2
members of UKCYBA.
In March of 1993, Cle Elum City Council approved UKCYBA’s Plan for development of Memorial Park and that it would
interface with the fire departments’ adjacent picnic area. Major Berndt commented, “We are finally making progress
on a ball park after five years.”
In April of 1994, UKCYBA received a Rural Development Grant to purchase two portable backstops for cities of Cle
Elum and Roslyn.
In July of 1995, construction work began with the irrigation system project.
In May of 1996, we became a 503c organization which allowed us to apply for available grants.
In the February of 1997, construction of the 4-plex backstops and fencing was completed. Plum Creek Grant for
$7,000 and City of Cle Elum provided $6,000.
In April of 1997, volunteer help engineered and constructed the (5) cutout areas for each field getting them as safe as
possible for the ensuing season.
In April of 1998, we contracted top soil application to take out some of the big safety hazards we were faced with by
uneven fields.
In September of 2001, we received a maintenance grant (50/50) from IAC for $34,900. Work included: top soil and
leveling, new automated irrigation sprinklers, concrete and benches in the dugout areas, planting of grass, installation
of clay brick at home plate and pitching mound, a clay mixture worked in around home plate and in the cutouts, and
rebuilding of the pitching mounds. A twenty year agreement between the City of Cle Elum and UKCYBA was
formulated and signed prior to applying for the grant.
From 2002 to 2006 we built and completed the concession/mtce building which also included restrooms and storage
for equipment.
In 2009 we sold sponsorships on 2 of our fields and used the money to purchase electronic scoreboards and home
run fences. The city of Cle Elum provided 5,000 in hotel/motel tax. We also held our first annual coal bowl baseball
tournament which brought in kids and parents from all around the northwest for the weekend.
In 2010 we received 25,000 from city hotel/motel tax to finish the last 2 fields on the 4 plex. Now all 4 fields will have
electronic scoreboards and homerun fences. This is going to enable us to make our coal bowl tournament double in
size and allow us to have a softball tournament too.
Upper Kittitas County Youth Baseball Association
Don Tate
President