Contributed photo Stillwater senior Nick Branjord, left, and baseball coach Ricky Michel admire the landscaping work at the SAHS baseball field, a project which Branjord completed with the help of friends, family and area businesses as his Eagle Scout Service Project.

Stillwater senior Nick Branjord has been involved with the Scouts since second grade. His baseball career started even before that, so it seemed like a natural fit when he decided to complete a landscaping project at the Stillwater Area High School baseball field as part of his Eagle Scout Service Project.

With help from friends, family and numerous area businesses, Branjord installed a retaining wall, planted some trees and added rocks under the bleachers to stop the erosion. In addition to being an eye sore, the floating cement slab featured many jagged edges and the area behind the bleachers also turned into a sloppy mess after it rained.

The project also included the installation of two signs which showcase many of the top teams and players in the history of Stillwater baseball.

Branjord, who received word on March 28 that he had become an Eagle Scout, completed the project last fall.

"Basically, when I got to that point in my scouting career I knew I wanted to do it for (Stillwater coach) Ricky Michel because of all the stuff he's given to the community," Branjord said. "This is a way to give back to him for all he's done, not only for me, but for Stillwater baseball.

"What's memorable is tying in the Scouts and baseball because both are such a great part of my childhood and it was great to tie those together."

Branjord received help from friends like Collin McGarry, Jake Liberty, Mike Wilson, Billy Zintl and Kurt Warren, along with his parents Kari and Joel.

"I had some players on the football team help me with the retaining wall the season of my junior year and the following spring had some baseball guys help me put in the trees and the rocks," Branjord said. "Then in the fall of 2006, the Action Rental guys helped me put in the signs and Ready-mix and S & C Bank donated the signs."

Michel, who has been the driving force behind nearly $35,000 in improvements to the facility the past several years, was also involved all the way through. Menards, Abrahamson Nursery and Junker Landscaping also pitched in to help, Branjord noted.

"They were ready to help," said Branjord, concerned he was forgetting even more contributors. "I explained to them what I was doing and it was pretty surprising how prepared everybody is to help you like that."

After getting an OK from the school district, Branjord had to submit a handful of proposals to Eagle Board Advisors to gain approval. The approval process took about six months, preceding a total of 74 hours of direct labor contributions from 13 individuals and the donations of more than $750 in supplies.

"The hardest part was getting the project approved," Branjord said. "Half the battle is getting it approved because they're extremely selective. We split it up into three parts and it's hard to find time with the sports and the ground freezing, but I got it done before my 18th birthday (which is one of the requirements)."

Branjord's scouting career began when he joined Cub Scout Pack 114 in the second grade. He advanced to Boy Scout Troop 114 in the fifth grade and was a founding member of Venture Crew 4545 three years ago.

As part of his scouting experience, Branjord has participated in annual trips to the Boundary Waters - in winter and summer - experienced a week of SCUBA diving off the Florida Keys and completing countless camping and canoing trips. During one year, he spent 35 nights in a tent over the course of four seasons.

Though Branjord and the rest of the baseball team have been unable to spend much time outside this spring, Branjord has received some feedback already.

"It looks great and I think people are going to notice it," Branjord said. "I'm sure once we start having games people will notice. I take pride in it, but you also take pride in giving back to Ricky and the program. It's been such a big part of my life, it's great to give back."

Michel said it was the second time one of his players has completed an Eagle Scout project for an area baseball program, the first being Billy Tait in the late 1990s or early 2000s when he installed bleachers at Crocker Park in Lakeland.

"It's just kind of nice," Michel said. "I like it because you have a player who's put in some sweat and blood and he can always look back and say, 'This is what I did. I left a mark on the ballfield.'"