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JSU baseball stadiumNew Tigers’ Den—JSU relishes new digs after turmoil in 2006

The Clarion-Ledger / DAVID BRANDT

Jackson, MS March 2007—Anthony McLin admits that for the better part of a year it was easy to wonder if Jackson State really cared about its baseball team. McLin, a senior outfielder, watched last March as the Tigers’ field was suddenly torn down midway through the season to make room for an engineering building on campus.

Reduced to a wandering road show for the rest of the year, playing home games at Smith-Wills Stadium or Trustmark Park, the Tigers were hurt even worse a few months later when they had to forfeit all of their conference wins and a spot in the Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball tournament because they used two ineligible players.

But fast forward a year and under the bright 80-degree sunshine is JSU’s new $1.8 million on-campus baseball field, and the outlook for the program is much brighter.

“It was worth the wait,” McLin said. “To have something like this to call home is everything you ask for. Last year was pretty messed up, but you can’t argue with this year.”

JSU’s new home didn’t amount to a victory on Saturday. Alcorn State beat the Tigers 15-4 to win the finale of a three-game series. An announced crowd of 120 was in the stands to watch a game at what JSU coach Omar Johnson called “easily the best field in the SWAC.”

The Braves pounded out 18 hits and roughed up JSU (10-9, 6-4 SWAC) starter Nick Stewart for 11 earned runs in five innings. ASU’s Brian Smith, Caleb Betschart and Jeff Jones all had three hits.

Francisco Garcia gave up three runs in six innings to get the win for Alcorn (13-10, 5-4).

“We won two of three against our arch rival JSU away from home,” Alcorn State coach Willie McGowan said. “I’d say that’s a pretty good weekend of work.”

Both teams raved about the field. “It’s a big step up for the SWAC to get a field like this in the conference,” said Alcorn’s Marcus Davis.

Johnson, an assistant coach on last year’s team before taking over as head coach this season, has spent loads of time trying to get the new surface at peak condition.

“It’s certainly something you take a lot of pride in and want to keep nice,” Johnson said. “It’s a great recruiting tool and helps restore the pride back in this program after everything that happened last season.”

JSU spokesman Anthony Dean said the initial $1.8 million for the field was paid with state money.

Construction is still incomplete, with a scoreboard scheduled to be installed in the next few weeks and a second phase of construction planned over the next few years.

Jackson State athletic director Bob Braddy, who coached the baseball team for 27 years, said the second phase of construction should begin in the next year and cost between “$3 million and $4 million of a combination of private and state money.”

It will include chairback seats, indoor batting cages, locker rooms and offices for coaches.

“We really envision this place as somewhere to take your family,” Braddy said. “JSU should not only be doing well in the SWAC, but hopefully develop into a school that is an influence in the region, too.”