As part of an annual community project, Tides groundskeepers, front office staff and Goodwill associates will be traveling to Cradock Little League in Portsmouth this week to help renovate its baseball field. The Tides organization will be renovating the field from 9 am to 4 pm Tuesday, April 15 and Wednesday, April 16. Proudly presented by Goodwill, this field makeover will include an upgrade to the playing surface and an improvement to existing dugouts.

"Our entire staff looks forward to this project every year" said Tides General Manager Joe Gregory. "This is a great way to give back to the community and we enjoy doing our part to ensure that local kids can have facilities they are proud to call their own."

In addition to the field renovation, Goodwill staff will be on hand to accept donations of gently-used sports equipment and household items. Goodwill staff will also provide donation receipts, and those who donate items will get a buy-one-get-one free ticket to an April Tides home game.

2014 is the third year in which the Tides are renovating a local youth field. Cradock Little League won a contest on the Tides' Facebook page, garnering over 2,600 votes to top a list of 10 submitted youth fields. Over the first two years of the program, the Tides have already helped renovate five local fields - Ocean View Little League (Norfolk), Smithfield Recreation Association (Smithfield), Bennett's Creek Little League (Suffolk), Phoebus Little League (Hampton) and Shore Little League (Nassawadox).

The project is made possible thanks to Goodwill and the Tides Youth Baseball Fund, a program established by the Tides in 1990 as a way to raise money for youth baseball and softball programs in Hampton Roads. In addition to assisting with field renovations, the Youth Baseball Fund also helps local teams and leagues with travel expenses. Those wishing to make a donation directly to the Youth Baseball Fund can do so via norfolkides.com under the "community" section.

Donations given to Goodwill are sold in its area retail stores. The non-profit relies on the sales of gently-used items to fund its 20+ job skills training and career development programs to help individuals with various obstacles to employment gain and maintain work. Goodwill operates vocational training programs throughout Hampton Roads and a Community Employment Center in Olde Towne Portsmouth where 200+ job seekers access Goodwill's services every month.

The Tides return to Harbor Park on Friday, April 18 with a four-game series vs. division rival Durham. Individual tickets, season tickets, group tickets, picnics and patios are currently available for the 2014 season. For pricing and additional information, stop by the Harbor Park Box Office, visit norfolktides.com or call (757) 622-2222.