Renovated Peterswood Park field to be named after Maize
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
By John Sacco
For the Observer Reporter
Joe Maize did a lot for Peters Township High School baseball.
Now, Peters Township is doing something for Maize.
The district and township will honor Maize, the former longtime Indians baseball coach, by naming the renovated field at Peterswood Park, where the high school has called home for many years, after him.
Brian Geyer, Peters Township athletic director, called Maize recently and asked him to join him in his office. It was at that meeting the Geyer informed Maize of the district’s and township intentions.
“I was speechless and humbled,” Maize said of him being told about the honor. “It is obviously a great honor and it’s pretty special.”
Maize led the Indians to a pair of WPIAL championships (2007 and 2008), two PIAA silver medals (2004 and 2005), eight section titles and 17 WPIAL and five state playoff appearances.
Maize finished his spectacular career with a record of 422-241 record (.637 winning percentage).
In addition to his long tenure as baseball coach, Maize was the Indians’ athletic director for many years, and he coached a variety of sports at Peters Township. He also taught physical education and driver education.
Maize is a graduate of Waynesburg Central High School.
The field will be named Joe Maize Field.
Geyer had planned to honor Maize in some way after Maize retired as baseball coach after the 2019 season. Initially, COVID got in the way and time just passed.
“They started an ambitious project at Peterswood Park to upgrade the facilities,” Geyer said. “Our baseball coach, Rocky Plassio, came to me and said what if we named the revitalized field after Joe? He got us thinking about that agreement we had with Joe to honor him in 2020.”
Said Plassio: “I just thought the opportunity with the field to finally bring honoring Joe to fruition was great timing. I consider Joe a good friend and I always admired him.
“Admittedly, I’ll tell you it’s not easy to follow him. Whenever I got the job, I kind of felt like I was in a shadow.”
Peters Township and the township council gave their approvals.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Dave Brooks, director of parks and recreation for Peters Township. “I’ve got to meet Joe a couple times and we’ve had some conversations in my short period of time here. I really enjoyed talking to him about the history of the program and where it started.
“It was the vote by the parks and recreation board to move it forward to the township and council. We took it to the meeting, presented Rocky’s email and his information. Joe has been a great steward for the township and for the school district for a long time.”
Brooks said the project is “a little more than $1 million. Headed there was an initial grant of $650,000 and then another for $500,000.
Artificial turf will be placed in the infield while natural grass will remain in the outfield. Some new drainage will also be included in the new look. Brooks said new dugouts and a new press box will also be in place. Brooks added there will be a new walkway around the field and a new backstop “more like a PNC Park look,” he added.
“It’s a cleaner look, more of a college setting,” Brooks said.
Weather has hindered progress and it is not known when the field will be ready for play. In the meantime, the Indians will play home games at Washington & Jefferson College’s Ross Memorial Park.
And Maize will be honored when play can begin.
“I think I’ve was blessed with kids who loved the game of baseball,” Maize said. “They were committed and I think that’s a reason for the success. I think we always emphasized respect for the game and respect for one another, themselves and families. And I was blessed with tremendous coaches.”