By PETE FONTAINE They were wearing ski caps instead of the traditional Babe Ruth Baseball hats.

They were bundled up in cold weather garb instead of their warm weather coaching jerseys that are more conducive for spring and summer temperatures.

Moreover, frigid temperatures that hovered around 35 degrees and a brisk breeze made their mission much more difficult than those fun-filled pre-season days in April and May.

Nevertheless, some dedicated dads – an alum – and a volunteer extraordinaire weren’t about to let old man weather interrupt what has been a necessary yet heart-warming project by Apponaug Babe Ruth Baseball League to continue working to make the Joseph J. Malaga Jr. Field one of the best Cal Ripken Division facilities a top-flight playing surface for the group’s Tee Ball Division.

For inside of five hours – perhaps even longer – volunteers worked tirelessly to complete laying a new type of infield mix along the first and third base lines, home plate and of course the entire infield.

A half-dozen volunteers, headed by APBRL President Jim Tweed, raked then smoothed out the infield mix which was first tractored from a large pile atop Malaga Field down a bank and onto the actual field by Joe Amoroso, a lineman for Verizon who volunteered the use of his Kubota for the project.

“If we were keeping off-season stats,” Tweed mused with appreciation ringing in his voice, “Joe would be the consensus most valuable volunteer.”

Tweed explained that “the T-Ball field renovation project is part of a long-term plan we have for the league and the Apponaug Baseball Complex. With support from a state grant, league volunteers have already spent a number of days repairing the bleachers around the t-ball field and clearing away overgrowth brush and debris.”

He also heaped words of praise upon volunteers who have painted the dugout benches and worked to revitalized the field by upgrading the playing surface, cutting in the infield diamond, basepaths, hitting circle and pitcher’s mound.

“We’ve spread 12 yards of infield mix, put in new bases, a home plate and pitching rubber,” Tweed went on. “Our project also includes aerating, top-dressing and reseeding the grass which will be done in the spring.”

Sunday’s work session began with Gary Maccarone, a proud father, board member and project chairman along with his son Brady, 15, who is a ABRLB alum, Dave Bouvier and Amoroso teaming up in the early hours then being joined by Vice President Steve Madden, Josh Ritz and Tweed who bolstered the line-up and will continue working to make the Joseph J. Malaga Jr. Field a showplace for the Apponaug boys and girls for the spring and summer youth baseball seasons.