McLean Great Falls Babe Ruth League is launching its first major capital campaign to raise money to re-build its home field located at Lewinsville Park, McLean, Virginia. The project, will make significant improvements to the existing 90 foot diamond and rename the new field, The Mark Bleiweis Memorial Sportsmanship Field.

Mark Bleiweis was a McLean dad and coach who had a passion for youth sports. He coached Little League, soccer and basketball for several years before his untimely passing of pancreas cancer in May 2004. Mark was known for his coaching style.  Kids loved to play for him.  While Mark wanted his teams to win, his primary focus was on kids having fun and learning life skills through sports.

Field improvements include

• Re-grading / leveling the entire infield.
• Building  a birm in the outfield  re-utilizing the excavated infield soil. The birm would be planted with shade trees and over time, provide beauty as well as a sound barrier for the local neighborhoods.
• New dugouts and better overall field drainage
• New scoreboard in left field
• Pitching mound for bullpen practice
• Newer stadium style seating accessible via an access ramp located behind  home plate as well as home and visitor dugouts- all protected by a higher backstop
• Tribute Wall - the field’s trademark feature, would be located behind the seating behind home plate.  The wall features porcelain tiles engraved with names of donors, neighbors, sponsors and friends.

The Mark Bleiweis Memorial Sportsmanship Field is a gift to the McLean community and a reminder to all of us of the importance of family, friends, and good sportsmanship.