After a long, cold winter, baseball is back in Norfolk. And this year, kids playing at the Freeman-Kennedy School fields will have new dugouts to use while waiting for their turn at bat. That’s all thanks to Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School, whose carpentry students have been building the new dugouts in a project coordinated with Norfolk’s recreation department.

According to Tom Antonellis of Tom Antonellis Carpentry, who serves on the school’s board of advisors, the project allows students to apply their classroom learning in a real-world setting, gaining hands-on construction experience in practical projects.

Students began working on the dugouts around mid-November and have continued building them through the winter months. Despite the tough conditions and several school breaks, the students have continued to make steady progress. 

“They’ve been out there on the days it’s been 10 degrees,” Antonellis said. “Because this is real life. They’ll graduate and get a job somewhere and that job may warrant them to be out in the cold, working.” 

Approximately ten students work on site at a time, supervised by Tri-County carpentry instructors Jeremy Barstow and Mark Spillane. 

The plan calls for six new dugouts at the Freeman-Kennedy fields. As of early March, two were largely completed, with additional materials expected to arrive soon so students can begin work on the next set. 

“These are complete constructions,” Antonellis said, noting that the structures are being built from the ground up rather than restoring existing dugouts. The fields are used by both baseball and softball teams. 

Project materials are being funded through a three-way partnership among Norfolk Baseball, Norfolk Softball, and Norfolk Recreation. Funding comes from program fees and tournament revenue generated by the organizations, and no taxpayer dollars are being used to cover any portion of the material costs. 

Based on typical labor rates for comparable outdoor wooden structures in Massachusetts—such as decks or sheds—construction labor can range from roughly $30 to $100 per square foot in the Boston area. By having Tri-County students complete the work as part of their training, the project is expected to save many thousands of dollars in labor costs.

The instructors try to replicate real job site conditions as much as possible, including staging and safety precautions. Students are taught to conduct themselves with responsibility and professionalism, and graduates of the Tri-County carpentry program are considered to be highly qualified, entry-level carpenters. 

Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School serves students from 11 communities, including Norfolk and Wrentham, as well as Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, North Attleborough, Plainville, Seekonk, Sherborn, and Walpole.

Antonellis, who has been a contractor for more than five decades and has served on Tri-County’s advisory board for about 18 years, helped connect the project with the town and assisted with coordinating materials. 

“I like to see the students get out and learn,” he said. “There’s book learning, but there’s nothing like hands-on learning.” 

For Antonellis, a graduate of vocational school himself, the project highlights both the value of vocational education and the importance of skilled trades. 

“Vocational school is a fantastic avenue, not just for carpentry but for so many different vocations today,” he said, noting that projects like the Freeman-Kennedy dugouts allow students to gain practical experience while also contributing to the community.

“I think this is a really great opportunity for the students and a great opportunity for our community of Norfolk to benefit,” Antonellis said. 

To be considered for a project by Tri-County students, visit tri-county.us/page/public-services and submit a work request. An instructor will be in touch if the project is considered a good fit for the students and if there is room in the schedule.