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Suffolk residents are encouraged to vote for a local youth sports organization to get a refurbished field.

Suffolk Youth Athletic Association is nominated in a contest to win a free field renovation from the Norfolk Tides minor league baseball team. Folks are encouraged to go online before voting closes at 4 p.m. Friday.

Every year, the Norfolk Tides hold a contest to renovate local youth baseball and softball fields. The nominated fields are listed on the team’s website for folks to vote for their hometown field. The field with the most votes by the end gets a visit from the Tides’ grounds crew, which puts their knowledge and experience to use as they upgrade the playing surface and give improvements to existing structures at the ballpark.

The Suffolk Youth Athletic Association’s baseball fields are located at 501 King’s Fork Road. The association is run by volunteers, making this a great opportunity for experienced professionals to come and take care of the field.

“It’s pretty cool,” said Stephanie Nystrom, whose sons play baseball with Suffolk Youth Athletic Association. “This would be very exciting, especially for the parents, coaches and volunteers. It’s all volunteer-based, so this is a great opportunity.”

Since the start of the program in 2012, the Tides have renovated 15 local fields from Gloucester to Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Suffolk was one of two winners the first year, earning a renovation at Bennett’s Creek Little League on Driver Lane.

As of March 16, Suffolk is in second place behind Virginia Beach Little League by only 400 points. Being so close, Suffolk parents encourage folks to go online and vote for Suffolk’s young athletes.

“Virginia Beach has a much bigger population, but we are only around 400 votes behind,” said Nystrom. “We still have a chance so we hope to get the word out.”

Votes can be cast at tinyurl.com/VoteSYL.