BB: New England Region Baseball Fields

[soxfan42585]

Well, without a doubt, FPC is God's Gift to Baseball.

(unfortunately, despite that attitude, they have played that way in d2 ball for a few years running now.)


Where did Keene State play their home games earlier on last year?  I remember talk about them playing elsewhere... Anyone else out there this weekend with a shovel?

[wordsmith]

Last year Keene State moved a number of home games to the opponents field. I believe they ended up playing 3 home games. A DH vs The Evil Empire, and a single game against Plywood State.

The problem with the KSC field is drainage. The entire Owl Complex was built on/in wetlands; the field is about 150 yards from the Ashuelot River which is notorious for flooding. So once the snow melts, the drainage becomes an issue.

I was on the field this morning. It has about a foot of snow/ice/slush on it. The tarp over the pitching mound has just started to poke throught the snow. This field was never cleared this year and I'd venture to say, barring an extented warm and dry spell, KSC will not play a home game until late April.

[KSCfan]

word keene played six home games last year, thier three dh against western,eastern, and southern maine.  As someone that played on that field for four years, you are 100 percent word that field doesnt drain for anything.  unless it gets tropical soon you will see the samething again happen this year like last year.

[wordsmith]

KSCFan - You mean 9 games. Your memory is better than mine, but my math is better than yours, together we make a great team

There first home game was not until late April. KSC even played a "home game" vs Plywood State in Manachester NH.

I see the boys took one on the chin yesterday but managed a split. Tough opp today in Johns Hopkins.   (I'll bet that's what the customers for the Emperor Escort Club are doing about now). Spitzer notwithstanding. 8)

[LEC Fan]

Boy I hope that you both dont enter any contests together!!! Word- KSC played 6 home games last year. I do not know where you got 9 from...must be KSCFans math as well!!!!!I would not count the Plywood St. game as a home game either...Manchester was a great park but def. not a home game for either team.

It should be interesting again this year to see if KSC can get to play at home for more then 3 days or 6 games. Home field advantage is important, especially in the LEC and come tournament time. The Owls looked sharp on their first day sweeping TCNJ. It was TCNJ last couple of games but KSC at the end of the day has the W's. Good test today against Johns Hopkins who have alwasy been a tough team for KSC. Goodluck!

[wordsmith]

New Hampshire Math 3x2+1=9. 

[wordsmith]

Field Update:

Eye See where Keene State College is playing an LEC Conference HOME Game vs Plywood State---> in Belmont Mass, at a High School field no less.

A home game, in another state, 2 hours/80+ miles away, on a high school field. YIKES.

[Ralph Turner]

New Hampshire Math 3x2+1=9. 

3 x (2+1) = 9.       
 

[wordsmith]

New Hampshire Math 3x2+1=9. 

3 x (2+1) = 9.       
 

Not in New Hampshire 3 x 2 + 1= 9 every time; (  ) are too confusing for Hill-Billy math.

Actually the formula is 3 inches of snow x 2 baseball teams +1 game = 9 innings of freezing fun.

But then I wouldn't want to go too Polynomial on you tonight.
x 2 + (a+b)x + AB = (x + a)(x + b)   

Word

[KSCfan]

We always talk about good fields give me the top worst fields in NE.  Here is mine in particular order

1. Western Connecticut, down hill in left from home plate, and uphill in right.  Also the grass is cut wierd in the infield, just a terrible place to play
2. Curry- Infield slopes down to the right side
3. Becker-(or wherever keene played Becker last year) with sheds for dugouts, and and infield that had more mole hills than Caddyshack

Honorable Mention: Keene State, the darn thing is underwater for half the season, when its dry its a very nice field, to bad its only dry for the last week of the season.

[wordsmith]

1) Keene State - has to be the #1 worst field in New England; sure it is a good field when it is dry and playable, but how many college teams can say, year after year that much of their home schedule is cancelled due to unplayable field ions? The field is in a wet lands areas and never drys. I have coached games in the middle of July on this field and had my outfielders have wet shoes and socks from standing in soggy ground.

Recent Events:
April/May 2004- KSC moves several home games to Keene's Alumni Field due to field conditions;
May 2006-         KSC hosts the ECACs only they never get played due to the field conditions;
October 2006  - KSC field under 5 feet of water during the most recent 100 Year Flood
                         (The last of which took place in 1987 and in 1984 before that);
2007 Season-   KSC plays 6 home games --> remainder of home schedule played elsewhere
2008 Season    To date zero home games played at KSC Complex- 4/11/08.

I guess I'd rather see a Poll on Who has the Best Home Field Advantage with factors given for weather, crowd involvement, etc.

My vote

1) TEE - Coach HolyWater and the student section top my list for Best Home Field Advantage

[KSCfan]

Sorry word have to really disagree with you on that one.  I think that keene has more of a home field advantage.  Anyone at the keene southernmaine game last year will vouch for that.  Down the left field line was the best baseball fans in the LEC bar none.  The left field line was packed with kids that where hammering on Southern Maine to the point where a player through a ball at them.  And going into the 9th in tha game the fans where chanting players names, and the place was absurd once Darak hit hte walk off.  All the times that i have been to Eastern and played there i havent been that impressed with thier fans, facilities wise its the best in NE but fan wise not so much, peolpe get intiminated playing there with 4 national titles flags, but i will take keene over eastern

[wordsmith]

Sorry word have to really disagree with you on that one.  I think that keene has more of a home field advantage.  Anyone at the keene southernmaine game last year will vouch for that.  Down the left field line was the best baseball fans in the LEC bar none.  The left field line was packed with kids that where hammering on Southern Maine to the point where a player through a ball at them.  And going into the 9th in tha game the fans where chanting players names, and the place was absurd once Darak hit hte walk off.  All the times that i have been to Eastern and played there i havent been that impressed with thier fans, facilities wise its the best in NE but fan wise not so much, peolpe get intiminated playing there with 4 national titles flags, but i will take keene over eastern

I agree with all that you said, However, Keene State seldom gets to play in front of their home fans due to the swamp. Therefore I must give the edge to TEE.

[Ralph Turner]

"Fields", and specifically, playing condition of the field to provide an acceptable surface for the game are one issue.

Fan support and team tradition that contribute to home field advantage are another issue.

This discussion has highlighted the fact that the KSC venue is not necessarily the most reliable venue for quality field conditions in New England.

[wordsmith]

“Home of the Monks” Gains National Recognition

A nice and deserving award for St. Joe's of Maine.

I have said it hear before and will say it again. Coach Will is the "Hardest Workin' Man in D-III baseball". Way to go Coach Will you make James Brown proud.

http://www.d3baseball.com/pressreleases/St.%20Joseph's%20(Maine)/2008/12/01/“Home-of-the-Monks”-Gains-National-Recognition/3480

To all You others. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year.

Word