The last time the Varsity Baseball Team played a home game on the Bel Air High School campus was in May 2009. That all ends today as the Varsity Baseball team plays their first game on their new field against the Aberdeen Eagles. Senior Captain Zack Stout says, “It’s great to say we have a home this year. I’m really looking forward to having the opportunity to play the first game at the new school. I cannot wait to hit the field.” Zack and his teammates will be hitting the field today at 3:30pm.
Like the other athletic fields at BAHS, the baseball field was originally scheduled to be used last year. Unfortunately, the field was not quite ready for play; so rather than risk doing long term damage to the field it was decided that the JV and Varsity baseball teams would play one more season off campus, at Tollgate Park. All of this has only heightened the team’s anticipation to today play their first true home game in nearly 3 years. Head Varsity Baseball Coach Swanson believes, “It will be nice to finally have our “home”, back after 3 long years. We no longer have to travel to Tollgate, and be occupied by time and waiting for a bus to come back to pick us up. Our players are excited and proud to be a part of our continued tradition at BAHS and to put their own mark on the new field. With the new field, we have access to everything any head coach could want, bullpens, batting cage, gators and most importantly electricity and water for the field to keep it up.”
According to Coach Swanson the team is eager to establish a home field advantage. “Our present players understand what a great facility this truly is and what we, as a team, want to accomplish this year, having the field finished and ready to play will make are goals a reality,” Coach Swanson explains.
In other baseball news, on Wednesday March 21st, Bel Air’s Varsity Baseball team opened the 2012 season on the road, with 7-3 victory over Dulaney High School. The Bobcats were led by a combined stellar pitching performance from Senior Captain Tyler Riedal who provided 4 innings, giving up 0 earned runs, and Junior Captain Tyler Norcross who pitched the final 3 innings, also not allowing an earned run. Riedal and Norcross were backed by many solid defensive plays including 2 double plays, and diving catches by Junior Nick Rhodes and Junior Nick Harris.
And now the team’s full focus can shift to opening up the new Bobcat Baseball Field in style by defeating the Aberdeen Eagles. So, please be sure to try to make it out to the baseball field today, March 22 and see history in the making.