By Greg Collins, junior 

Being new to the Friends University baseball program, I have not had the privilege to play at West Urban, but I have had the opportunity to play on the new West Side Athletic Field that Friends recently leased from the city of Wichita.

There is a lot of work left to do, but with time and care, it will make out to be a beautiful ball park. Being an outfielder it has come to my attention that our ball field is a pitcher friendly ball park, which in baseball terms means there will be very few home runs, and believe me when I say this; with this Kansas wind that should give you some idea how big our field really is.

“Having the chance to play closer to campus will provide a great opportunity for fellow students to come out and support our baseball program,” said Josh Tucker, one of Friends’ pitchers and a third baseman. “Being so far away from campus last year prevented many students from coming out to watch.”

The old field at West Urban was more than a seven-minute drive from the campus, which made it a very difficult drive for Friends baseball followers to make.

Not only does having a field closer to campus help bring out more support, but this new field gives the players an opportunity to maintain the field to their playing needs.

At West Urban the field was taken care of by the employees of that complex; the field wasn’t taken care of by the players. Having a field where players can work on it as much as they like installs a love and drive for the game in their minds. After a hard day on the field, nothing is more soothing than being able to rake up your position, knowing that you gave it all you had that practice or game.

A majority of teams around the nation take care of their own field. Not only does it allow them to create their own playing surface, but it builds team chemistry when players work together.

“The field will feel more like a home compared to the last one,” said TJ Lawless, a Friends right fielder. “When you have a place that is actually yours, you tend to appreciate it more.”

Friends Athletic Director Joe Zimmerman has been putting a lot of effort into providing all the right necessities for the players. This includes a hitting dome and new dugouts.

With this new transition, I would like to let all the students and faculty know that if they have the spare time to come out and support the Falcons, it would be great for all the players to know they have your support. I, along with everyone else of the team, am very honored to have a ball park close to home.