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Work Begins On Drew’s Field In Memory Of Little Drew Marlow

With the rumble of a bulldozer, the dream of Drew’s Field took another major step forward during the past week. For the first time since Cyndi Marlow dreamed of Drew’s Field, it’s a bit easier to look at the upper area of Bradberry Park and see the dream of Drew’s Field.

For the past week, a lone bulldozer has moved tons of dirt at Bradberry Park, carefully carving Drew’s Field out of the land.

Two year old Drew Marlow and his dad Danny Marlow died January 28 in an accident on Highway 97. A short time later, the Northwest Escambia Little League voted to name a new t-ball field at the back of Bradberry Park “Drew’s Field” in honor of Drew’s dream to play ball.

The total price tag for all of the dirt work to build Drew’s Field? Nothing. A Cantonment contractor took over the entire construction process — from pulling permits to erosion control studies to the actual hands-on labor to build in the park — for free.

The Poarch Creek Indians have donated fencing for the project. Now, Cyndi said, she needs to find funding or donations for sod. And about $15,000 for lighting. If all goes as planned, Drew’s Field will be ready for opening day in the spring.

“It’s exciting to see it come together,” Cyndi said. “I’m so happy to see things happen.”

In the meantime, the monument is done that will stand at Drew’s Field. It’s a little over five feet tall. The top reads “Welcome to Drew’s Field” and the bottom features a quote from Danny. “Always let your Light shine,” it says. That’s what Danny would always tell players after ballgames that he coached.

The middle of the monument features a little boy and  man walking hand in hand toward the sunset with baseball caps and a bat. The back of the boy’s jersey says “Drew” and has the number “3″ and the man’s jersey says “Drew’s Dad” and has the number “3″ too.

Drew and Danny spent hours playing with a blue and orange Florida Gators bat. Dreaming of that big t-ball opening day they both just knew would come when that little boy with a big number “3” on his jersey stepped to the plate.

Danny had it all planned out, down to the jersey number. Drew was Cyndi and Danny’s “miracle baby”…he was their third attempt at in vitro conception.

“We were just so excited. But then we went to the doctor. They rate the chances of the embryo surviving on a scale of one to five. A four or below has a small chance of surviving.”

“The doctor rated the embryo as a three that was Drew. A three out of five. We knew it was all in God’s hands.”

And God blessed the Marlows with a healthy sandy blond baby boy they named Drew.

“That’s where the jersey number ‘3’ came from. Danny always said ‘could you imagine if he was a five’,” Cyndi said. “He always wanted Drew to wear ‘3’ in his first t-ball game.”

“We were going to go play t-ball,” Cyndi said. “That’s all Drew talked about. “

Drew will never get to play on his field at Bradberry Park. But Cyndi hopes that it will be ready to dedicate on next year’s opening day. “And we are hoping to have a team in the league called ‘Drew’s Dream Team’,” she said.

Additional funding is still needed to make Drew’s Field a reality.  If you would like to help build Drew’s Field, donations can be made at any Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union in Escambia or Santa Rosa counties in Florida or at the Atmore, Alabama, branch to the “Drew’s Field” account.

For more information, or to volunteer to help, email jessc@frontiernet.net

To read our story from April about Drew’s Field, click here.

Pictured top: Drew Marlow’s Florida Gator bat on first base at what will become Drew’s Field. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge. Pictured middle: An artist’s drawing of the memorial to be placed at Drew’s Field. Pictured bottom: Drew Marlow, submitted photo.