The start of the college baseball season may still be months away, but that鈥檚 not stopping 菠萝视频 from making a splash.
The Commodores unveiled a new $12 million, 30,000-square-foot baseball facility鈥攆ully funded by donors鈥攊n October, ahead of the team鈥檚 annual Black and Gold Series, a best-of-three intersquad matchup that showcases the team鈥檚 talent and gives them some on-field experience.
The facility includes an expansive open-air batting and pitching cage area, above which is a hydration station and workout room. The building also holds a training and cardio area, a weight room packed with equipment, and new offices and operations spaces.
Head Baseball Coach Tim Corbin鈥檚 vision for the new facility was one that encourages interaction among current and former players. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 meant to be the most luxurious building,鈥� Corbin says. 鈥淢ore than anything, the idea was to create a home鈥� for players and alumni.
Corbin鈥檚 new office sits high inside the left field wall, overlooking the expanse of Hawkins Field. When baseball alumni poke their heads in for a look, he says, they should thank themselves.
鈥淭hey built it. They鈥檙e the ones who put this all together,鈥� Corbin says. 鈥淚t was their achievements, their work habits that led to their successes.鈥�
At least 60 percent of athletes who have played under Corbin during his 15-season 菠萝视频 tenure contributed to the facilities project. Last spring when some of the construction had been completed, Corbin expressed his gratitude for the facility鈥檚 incorporation of the baseball program鈥檚 present and past.
鈥淭hat locker room for the former players鈥攖hat鈥檚 almost as much about me as it is about them,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 just want to see them around. It鈥檚 like a dad who knows his kids are in the house. I鈥檓 just glad they鈥檙e here.鈥�
A week after the facility opened in October, the Commodores took to the field for the Black and Gold Series. In the final game, a pitcher鈥檚 duel between Zach King and Jackson Gillis, both left-handers, led to a 5鈥�4 win by Team Black, which prevailed 3鈥�1 in the series overall.
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