1979-1980 Yearbook

Baseball moves on campus 120 A t.ransFormation is in the making at the University. "Being on campus is going to be the great est thing for baseball at this school, " Coach Dick Johnson stat ed in referring to the new Jerry Moore Memori al Field now being built on the ex treme south end of the campus . No t only will the new fie ld give the students added opportunities to support their team, but it will also be the third largest baseball comp lex in the state, according to Johnson. It will contain a batting tunnel on the thi rd base side, a batting cage , major league-type dugouts, a 400-plus foot center field fence and a SO-foot a rea for the ca tcher Baseball to work in. Johnson added that the "spacious" ball park will serve as a positive recruiting tool for the Bisons, who plan to host a high school invitational during spring break and American Legion games during the summer. . While Johnson defjnitely expects the field to be completed by this summer, he has hopes it will be finished before this spring's season is over. He stated that the underground water system is laid and grass has been planted, but the fence still has be erected and the dugouts built. However, regardless of where hi s team plays this season, Johnson is confident of its chances in BISON HA HDBALLERS will rI o /o1lger hal1€ to use Berry hill Park fo r their games w ith the opening of tile Jerry Moo re Memorial Ball Park th is spring . 'he Ale. While 'he Bisons finished seventh last year, he expects them to "be near the top" this season, basing that belief on his overall team strength. "We're going to be a lot stronger up the middle," he stated, "with Don Skinner at second , Steve Ulrich at shortstop, Mike Moody at catcher and either Mark Kay or Rieke Stewart in center field. "Our season will go the way our pitching staff goes, " Johnson com- " ~ ' '''- , / ~ " "'r; --'- ' ::.., -~ 0 0 C=;:;::;:::CJ men ted in stating that he hopes to set up a six-man rotation system. Senior Mike Scott of Tulsa was the team's number one pitcher after off-season workouts with Skinner and junior Mike Claussen of North little Rock in relief. Johnson expect to have several All-Conference selections this year and stated that his top prospects are expected to be Ulrich , Cowden, Moody, Ashcraft , Stewart and Kay . - Linda Hilbun (r.1" I l' , I 1 00 ,~ ti I "- [ I ' '-~ ·1 • 1 .. ,

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