Field of Dreams: Padre Soccer League

CORPUS CHRISTI - The history-making Houston Dynamo-Laredo Heat soccer match is over.

The recipient of the event's longest-lasting legacy was revealed Thursday night at halftime.

Approximately 10,000 square feet of TifSport Bermuda 419 sod is being donated by Stripes and Ryan-Sanders Baseball to Padre Soccer League for installation on Field 9. Field 9 is actually comprised of three fields used by players 6 and under. King Ranch Turfgrass is assisting on the project.

Padre Soccer League was one of three finalists for the initial Soccer Field of Dreams gift. The others were Gulf Coast Soccer Club and City of Portland Parks & Recreation/Gregory-Portland Soccer Association. Members of the Hooks management team conducted site visits last.

"All three finalists were very thorough with their applications and did a great job of explaining their vision for the sod and its upkeep," Hooks field superintendent Izzy Hinojosa said. "Our task of selecting a winner was difficult."

Sod installation at Field 9, part of Bill Whitt Park off of Yorktown Boulevard and Cimarron Boulevard, takes place tomorrow and Saturday.

The Stripes-Hooks Soccer Field of Dreams is patterned after the Hooks Field of Dreams program, which provides for the construction or renovation/renewal of Coastal Bend youth baseball and softball fields. Robstown Little League and the Corpus Christi Miracle League were the first two beneficiaries.
Stripes and the Hooks have been partners since Whataburger Field opened in 2005. The Stripes Diamond is a regulation youth baseball field located just beyond the batter's eye in center field. Local and regional teams compete on the field before Hooks games each evening. In 2009, 70 teams from 15 different leagues utilized the facility. Coastal Bend teams with players 12-and-under are eligible at no cost.

Since 2006, 366 teams have enjoyed the use of Stripes Diamond. 

About Stripes
Corpus Christi, Texas-based Susser Holdings Corporation is a third-generation family led business that operates more than 525 convenience stores in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma primarily under the Stripes and Town & Country banners. Restaurant service is available in more than 300 of its stores, primarily under the proprietary Laredo Taco Company and Country Cookin' brands. The Company also supplies branded motor fuel to approximately 390 independent dealers through its wholesale fuel division. For further information about Stripes, please visit www.stripescorp.com.

Corpus Christi Hooks Baseball is in its sixth season. The Hooks are members of the eight-team Texas League and Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. Reid Ryan, oldest son of baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, is founder and CEO of the Hooks and Round Rock Express. Hooks Help was established in 2006 to positively impact Coastal Bend citizens. It revolves around the desire to serve through youth-, education and charity-related initiatives.