(Please note - Season opening double-header vs Nyack, originally scheduled for Friday, 2/25, has been moved to Thursday, 2/24 at 2:00 pm). The spring 2012 season marks the start of a new chapter in St. Thomas Aquinas College Athletics history when the Spartan baseball team takes the field for its Season Opener this Thursday.
Provident Bank Park, located in Ramapo, NY, is the state-of-the-art home of the independent Can-Am League's Rockland Boulders and is currently slated as the site of all 27 scheduled Spartan home contests this spring. The stadium has been branded as "America's Best New Ballpark" and immediately becomes one of the premier Division II host facilities in the country, and possibly the nation.
"We are thrilled to be playing our home games in Provident Bank Park. This is an exciting new era for Spartan baseball, and shows a strong commitment from the college in support of our athletic program," stated Director of Athletics Gerry Oswald, who spearheaded negotiations last summer that resulted in securing the use of the park. "It is a first class ballpark and I know our coaching staff and student-athletes cannot wait to take the field."
Nestled amid the picturesque Ramapo mountains, "The Bank" creates a tremendous atmosphere for enjoying America's Pastime, as evidenced by the over 120,000 fans who attended Boulders' games in their 2011 inaugural season. It features a 360 degree concourse to allow viewing from all angles, an incredible sunset view of the mountains over the left field bleachers, and players can be expected to take their shots at the right field Short Porch as well as the 40-foot high centerfield fence, occasionally referred to as "Mount Ramapo." It seats 4,500 but can accommodate far more thanks to the ample standing room, as evidenced by their record-setting mark in excess of 6,000 in the season's final weekend.
Under the guidance of Head Coach Scott Muscat, entering his 13th season at the helm, the Spartans are coming off a 26-25-1 overall record (15-15 in the East Coast Conference) and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The expectations are even higher for the upcoming campaign, as STAC was predicted to finish tied for 2nd in the seven-team ECC in the pre-season poll of coaches, but the importance of this season transcends the records.
"It may still be 90 feet between the bases and 60 feet 6 inches from the pitcher's rubber to home plate, but when you play college baseball in a stadium such as Provident Bank Park the game is taken to elevated heights for both the participant and the spectator," Coach Muscat noted. "My hope is the extraordinary surroundings will make us take greater pride in the game and the way we play the game. On behalf of the players, parents, and the coaching staff, we are grateful to College President Dr. Margaret Fitzpatrick, the Board of Directors, Athletic Director Gerry Oswald, and the Town of Ramapo for their commitment to baseball at St. Thomas Aquinas College."
Aside from the obvious amenities the stadium presents, a STAC baseball program that has used a variety of facilities in recent years can now turn their focus to their one premier venue, and the value it will have in the years to come. "It is great to finally have a place to call home," agreed John Garvey, the team's assistant coach, who is also responsible for attracting talent as the squad's Recruiting Coordinator. "I believe the team will be able to play to a higher level as a result."
In the end, it's all about playing the game of baseball and it's unlikely that anyone is more excited than the Spartan athletes themselves. "It's a huge honor to be the first team at STAC to play at Provident Bank Park," said senior pitcher Tom Enright, "and I know that we as a team are very grateful to everyone involved, especially Dr. Fitzpatrick and Mr. Oswald that made all of this possible."
Originally, the scheduled opening date of Friday, February 25 seemed like a long shot due to the usual weather patterns in the northeast, however the mild winter made the early opener a reality. Because of the predictions of inclement weather on Friday, however, the Spartans' first pitch was moved a day earlier. Game one of the twin bill is slated for 2:00 pm, preceded by Opening Day introductions. The Spartans will then travel to face UMass-Lowell in a double dip on Sunday, February 26 before returning to Provident Bank Park next Tuesday, February 28, when Bloomfield College pays a call in a 3:00 pm start.
(If you can't make it to the ballpark you can still follow all the action of Spartan home games - for the first time, STAC Baseball will feature in-game live stats via Prime Time from Presto Sports. Just click on the "Live Stats" link on the schedule page! And be sure to follow all of STAC's athletic teams on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/STACSpartans)