A spike in participation numbers in the Wright City High School baseball program has prompted the creation of a freshman level team for the 2016 spring season.After addressing some initial concerns, the R-II board approved the temporary program on a 5-2 vote. Board members Erin Williams and Corri Ruge voted against it.According to Athletic Director David Evans, start-up costs for the team are expected to be around $5,110, including $2,100 for equipment and travel, $2,010 for coach’s pay and $1,000 for official’s compensation.With the board proposing a tax increase on the November ballot, some board members were concerNed about how the public might perceive the move.“I think it’s fantastic that we have that many kids who want to be involved in the baseball team,” said Williams. “I question spending $5,000 for a baseball team when we’re asking our taxpayers for a tax increase.”Superintendent David Buck says it’s a common practice among bordering districts to add a team if participation numbers reach a level that cannot be accommodated by the existing teams.Evans explained that having 10 seniors returning, coupled with an unusually high level of interest from the freshman class, presented a dilemma. With 38 players expressing an interest in playing and just two teams, the underclassmen would likely see very little field time this spring when having to vie for playing time against their more experienced teammates.“This year we have the numbers to propose for that third team,” said Evans. “It’s something in the future if the numbers continue to stay there, it’s something we would like to see again.”The initial option was to hold tryouts and cut around 10 players to field only junior varsity and varsity teams, but Evans and coaching personnel did not feel that would bode well for the future.”“As a program we feel that option would prove to be detrimental to the continued success of our program due to the ages of our students,” he said.Board member Mary Groeper also raised questions over whether the existing athletic facilities would provide functional practice space for all three teams to practice at once.“In a situation where they are all needing to practice at once, we can send one group to the batting cage area, the outfield can be used by one team and another can use the field area where the football team practices,” explained Evans.Tentatively, the freshman team has 12 games scheduled, including six home games.Baseball