The issue was not in the air but on the ground that ended up being discussed during the Barnwell Regional Airport Commission meeting.

During the Jan. 28 meeting, Robbie Massengale along with Will Kearse and Greg Williams, all members of the Barnwell Baseball Association Board, came to plead their case before the commission.

Earlier in the month, Massengale was told by P.F. Beck, the airport commission chairman that the youth baseball and softball teams belonging to the association would not be allowed to use the open fields -- airport property -- for practice anymore.

"If you give us a second chance to work out here, we will make sure that the rules are followed," Massengale said to the commission.

The Barnwell Baseball Association had been using these airport fields -- located outside the fence that separates the fields from the runways and aircraft taxiways -- since Massengale has been involved with the association, which has been more than 11 years, he said.

The commission has had several complaints arise from the association's use of the fields over the years. Those include: coaches not taking down backstops or bases after practice; players and spectators leaving litter and spectators parking along the entrance road to the terminal or along U.S. 278, creating traffic congestion.

Beck said he fears a child might dart out between the parked cars and get hit, either on the entrance road or U.S. 278.

The road into the terminal is considered a public road, he said.

Backstops and bases left in place also make it hard for airport maintenance to mow the grass, Beck said.

"It's a safety issue and hazard when they are cutting grass," he said.

About 10 to 12 practice areas can be situated in the fields, Beck said.

The Barnwell Baseball Association handles about 350 to 400 children between 4 and 12 years old playing softball and baseball. The association has been running these ball programs for around 20 years. The season runs from March to July, Massengale said.

The association would not have another place to hold its practices if the commission decides to ban the players from its property, he said.

Barnwell municipal recreational fields like the newly expanded Lemon Park sports complex are not viable options for the Barnwell Baseball Association, Massengale said.

"We cannot practice down there (Lemon Park). The city charges for practices on an hourly wage to use that facility," he said. "There is not really a good place in the county but here to practice."

The only exception is if the team is an All-Star team, then the city would allow free use of Lemon Park, Massengale said.

Massengale said he has never seen in writing the rules that the airport asks the teams to follow.

Beck said the airport goes over the rules with a representative of the Barnwell Baseball Association each year and that person should relay the rules to the team coaches.

Massengale said he is aware remaining backstops have been a problem in the past.

"We have asked the coaches to take down the backstops. Sometimes board members have had to come and take them down," he said.

If allowed another season to practice on airport property, the association will have some changes in place, Massengale said.

One, there would be a $50 fine for any coach who left a backstop up. Also all the coaches would get the rules in writing. Third, the association would not set up any practice areas along the entrance road to the terminal to avoid congestion, he said.

"It's so vital to have this property to practice on," Massengale told the commission. "I know this is just words, but give us time to put it in practice."

The airport commission will revisit the issue in its February meeting whether to allow ball practice to start again on the airport fields, Beck said.