Baseball Season Opened with New Surroundings
4/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | General
By: Casey Byron, Athletic Communications Student Assistant
When the 2006 season concluded, the baseball team not only said goodbye to another season but to their baseball field. Shortly after the season ended, work began on Owen T. Carroll Field.
Construction centered on the baseball field itself, enhancing the environment for the players. For months, the field was all rock and dirt after the grass had been torn up. Finally, turf covered all areas of the field, leaving clay on the pitcher’s mound and home plate. Foul territory was expanded on the first and third base lines, while the depth of the outfield was increased too. Newly restored bullpens replaced the old ones making it easier for relief pitches to see when to enter the game and keep up with the action while they warm up. Along with the bullpens, new dugouts were added to field. High fences enclose the field, protecting the ball from traveling towards fans. For the first time in Seton Hall baseball history, night games were added to the schedule because of the addition of lights to the field.
“I think I could speak for everyone on the team when I say it’s a total improvement. It’s easier to run on and better to slide on. Every ground ball stays down and there are no bad hops. For a pitcher, it’s an amazing field because almost every ground ball is an out. But for a hitter it isn’t as good because the field is so big, causing the outfielders to easily track down and catch almost any ball,” senior pitcher D.J. Cunningham said.
The players are not the only ones who enjoy the renovations. Work was also completed on the perimeter of the field. After years of being unused for baseball games, the grandstand behind centerfield is now open for spectators. Newly landscaped areas surround the parking deck fence as well as the visitors’ bleachers.
The project was completed just in time for Opening Day 2007. On March 14, the first pitch on the new Owen T. Carroll field was thrown, paving the way for numerous seasons of successful baseball.
The 2007 baseball team is off to a great start on their new home field. Fans, alumni and present players can appreciate the new Owen T. Carroll field and the memories they have from the old one. The new field will leave a lasting impression on Seton Hall Baseball tradition.
