By Sarah Brown
Lebanon Local
It took Teagan Maloney about six months to research and begin his Eagle Scout project, but he’s now well underway to completing the installation of three bullpens at Bob Smith Park.
“It’s not something you just do every day; there’s not, like, plans on the internet to do it,” he said. “I’ve had to sketch them all up and design it.”
Maloney, a high school junior, is building the bullpens for Lebanon’s Junior Baseball Organization as his project to attain the highest rank achievable in the Boy Scouts.
The project was his idea, something he saw as a need for Lebanon while he was growing up.
“I’ve played baseball most of my life, and I’ve played here for many years and we’ve always needed a bullpen,” Maloney said.
Tré Kennedy, JBO coach and a supporter of Bob Smith Park, said the bullpens are one more step to making the park one of the best baseball complexes in the state.
“We are becoming a destination for baseball,” he noted.
Kennedy has coached Maloney in baseball, as well as football and basketball.
“He is an outstanding young man,” Kennedy said. “A pleasure to coach and always well liked by his teammates.”
Few Scouts make it this far. They have to work their way through ranks and earn merit badges before they can finally apply for the highest rank, Eagle Scout.
“I’ve been doing Scouts since I was about 7,” Maloney said.
Being a Scout is something of a family tradition for him, he said. His dad, uncles and cousins across the states have all participated in the Boy Scouts of America, and most of his cousins made it to the rank of Eagle Scout.
“It’s a prestigious rank,” Maloney said. “A lot of employers and colleges recognize it. It’s a very big achievement because it takes over 100 man hours to do my project.”
He had to present the bullpen idea to a board of Scout leaders for approval, and then raise funds and donations to complete it, he said. When he’s finished, he’ll have to again present to the board to get his Eagle Scout rank.
Maloney has worked various projects to earn money for the bullpens, and asked businesses for donations. Ace Hardware donated concrete, and Rick Franklin of Santiam Excursion Trains donated gravel.
The bullpens include a mound for the pitcher to practice from, and turf that will cost about $2,000.
The Scout has had to work with businesses and delegate jobs to those who are helping him. It’s been a challenge to get his helpers motivated to work, sometimes, he noted.
The bullpens are expected to be complete next month, in time for the local youth baseball seasons.
Maloney said he’s learned a lot of lessons along the way.
“I’ve had to learn how to deal with people and manage people throughout this project,” he said.