Parents complain to Frederick County School Board about foul baseballs crashing into homes

FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. (7News) — Yakov Elizarov, who owns a home right behind home plate at Oakdale High School, started his presentation in front of the Frederick County Public Schools Board of Education by handing board members a foul ball that landed in homeowners' backyards.

"I know you can all remember what a baseball looks like," said Elizarov.

He has so many foul balls that he ran out of board members and dumped the rest on the floor.

Last week, the 7News I-Team exposed what Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins calls a safety risk with foul balls flying into homes and traffic.

"Do you think it's a safety issue or not?" asked I-Team Investigator Scott Taylor.

"I do. I really do. I think it's a potential risk of injury to children. A risk of foul balls hitting cars driving on the road behind it. I think property damage to homes out there are a real concern," said Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins.

RELATED | Parents say foul balls from Oakdale High baseball field pose risk to nearby homes, traffic

"Does the school district see this as a safety issue or not? Yes or no on that?" asked Taylor to Dr. Paul Lebo, the Chief Operating Officer at Frederick County Public Schools.

"We understand that the community has concerns. This field has been operated effectively at well over a decade so we look to continued conversations," said Dr. Lebo.

"So that's not a yes or no?" added Taylor.

The netting was constructed by developers when the homes were built years after the construction of the baseball field. The district never spent any money on putting up the netting.

On Tuesday night, homeowners lit up the Frederick County Board of Education.

"You talk about safety here, and you don't take any action? It's unbelievable and it's shame on you," Elizarov told the board.

Other parents asked the board for help, too.

"In just the past few weeks, foul balls have damaged a neighbor's wall and was about to shatter my bedroom window as well," added Madhav Karthik Kodigepalli, who owns a home near the baseball field.

Parents said the district told them a new net would cost $100,000, and it doesn't have the money.

During the meeting, the district revealed it has almost an $11 million increase in revenue, and it spends $5 million on sports and $2.3 million on safety and security.

After the meeting, 7News' Scott Taylor asked Frederick County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Dyson and all the board members if they thought the netting was a safety issue.

"Hi guys, I'm Scott Taylor with WJLA. Does anybody have any comments on the safety nets, if they are safe or not? Superintendent, would you like to make a comment?" said Taylor.

"I have no comment," said Frederick County Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Dyson.