Baseball Field Top Priority For Players
by LaTifanny Dean
Tougaloo College’s new baseball field may be placed on hold. The baseball coach, Earl Sanders, along with team members, has been working to ensure the field’s completion in time for the Spring since February of 2005. However, a lack of funds and equipment has caused delays.
“There are a few things that have to happen. We have to build dug-outs, backstops; we need more dirt for the infield and outfield, and we need lights on the field. I think it’s highly unlikely it’ll be ready for play,” said Sanders, who is also the coordinator for recreational and Greek life. Sanders said the problem is lack of funds and lack of equipment.
Not having the field ready appears to cause scheduling problems. “We won’t have any home games. Everything will be on the road,” said Sanders. “I have not scheduled any games because of the fear that the field would not be ready.” Most teams have been placed on hold until further knowledge about the field becomes clear. If the field isn’t ready, all the games will be double headers meaning Tougaloo will play both games at their opponent’s home field.
An economic and business major from Greenwood, Donyell Hemphill, who is also first baseman for the team, said that although they spend many hours preparing the field, he is not upset about the possibility of not being able to play on the field. He said although there is a chance the field will not be ready, he remains optimistic. “I know that sooner or later we’re going to play on it,” Hemphill said. “We have to be patient.”
Brad Elmore, a 22 year-old physical education major from Edwards and a member of the team, said he is somewhat optimistic as well. “I think we’ll still be able to play on the field this year, I hope,” Elmore said. “We worked like slaves trying to get the field ready.”
Both Elmore and Hemphill agreed that constructing a baseball field is hard work. Hemphill said cutting grass, tilling soil, watering dirt, raking home plate and the pitcher’s mound, and measuring the fields, seems easier than it is. “It is some of the hardest work I’ve ever done; laying sod, the artificial grass,” Hemphill said. “You have to be a man to handle that. Coach made it look easy.”
Sanders had worked on a field before but not from the beginning. He said the most difficult task is the groundwork, watering the grass that was planted, and leveling the ground. This is Tougaloo’s second year having a baseball team. Since the team’s establishment, Sanders and Athletic Director, James Coleman, have collaborated to build the field. Coleman said the baseball diamond is in Phase Two. Phase Two includes the signing of bids and contracts for the construction of dugouts and a press box. Some obstacles that have impeded completion are the lack of sufficient resources and the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the building industry. Coleman hopes the project will be completed within the span of three weeks.
Sanders said that funding for the baseball diamond came from various sources including alumni donors and local attorneys Herbert Lee and Dennis Sweet. Author, John Grisham, donated $50,000.
Sanders said not having the field does not pose many problems. The advantage of playing at home is to give the student body the chance to see the team play. Since there is a chance this will not happen, he is busy preparing the team for their rivalries this year. He has high faith in his team this year. “We have a couple of returning veterans who can, hopefully, assist our promising new players and help them make the transition from high school to college.”
Sanders hopes for a better record this year than their 1- 23 record last year. Some of the opponents Tougaloo will face are Grambling University, cross-city rival Belhaven College, and a tough Alcorn State University team. The first game for the Tougaloo team will against Loyola University in New Orleans on February 11.
