Baseball field causing problems
By Holli L. Rapp
With the baseball season set to open at home this week, college officials are still discussing what to do about a baseball field that is unplayable.
The field, located to the west of the track, has been a problem through many seasons because of poor drainage.
Larry Rousey, director of the physical plant, said there are no water lines to the field. Athletic Director Mike Riley explained that pipes had been run to the field, he did not know how long ago, but those pipes are broken.
Riley learned about problems with the field shortly after his arrival on campus in August.
In addition to poor drainage, the field is ringed by a rusted fence, the field is uneven, and a dugout and fencing the dugout was ripped out in a tornado in the summer.
At press time, Riley, head baseball coach Bob Koopmann, and assistant coach Jon Drahos were looking at other area fields for home games. Last season the team played some games at fields in Ottawa.
Riley and the coaches said they are concern about the field being dangerous. Riley said the field hasn’t caused any serious injuries yet.
In fall baseball, one player was hit in the throat by a bad bounce.
Riley said he was also concerned that an unsafe field might cost the team some recruits.
Koopmann said he was tired of commenting about the field.
March 15, 1999 the Apache