Just like heaven


By Milt Higgins

March 17, 2015

CONWAY, S.C.-  Daylight was about to sit on St Patrick’s Day at Springs Brooks Stadium in a one-run ballgame.  The 2,500 joyous fans occupied the seats at the new stadium who possessed what could be the Grand Strand’s hottest tickets of 2015. The bases were loaded, with one out.  All eyes were on Coastal Carolina University (CCU) right fielder David Parrett, as he stepped back into batter’s box.  Clemson’s relief pitcher Alex Schnell wound up and delivered a 1-0 pitch to the plate.  One swing later, the stadium erupted.   The reason to build a new stadium at that moment may have just paid off.

“I’ve never seen it like this.  It’s been crazy,” said sports store clerk Jabari Bradley.

 The largest CCU on-campus baseball crowd (2,825) gathered to witness the in-state matchup.  The stadium was divided in teal down the third baseline and in orange down the first baseline, with a little more teal sprinkled down the right-field line.  Another 300 fans stood in the standing room only area. 

Athletic Director Matt Hogue said one of the goals for building the new $15 million stadium was to take the Chanticleers baseball team to another level on a national scale.  Tuesday night brought in another Atlantic Coast Conference foe.  Not just any foe, but the in-state “big brother” Clemson Tigers.

Even Tigers’ fans were impressed by the new field.  Doug Davis made the four hour trip from  Spartanburg because he heard about the new stadium.

“Without a doubt, this is a top-of-the-line field,” Davis said.

Other Clemson fans chimed in how impressed they were and couldn’t wait to come back to see the finished product that will include lawn seating and a boardwalk that will complete the encircling of the field.  A couple of them suggested CCU include the outfield dimensions on the wall because it was deceiving.

Another goal Hogue said he hoped to meet, was fielding a team who played on the inside of those “secretive” dimensions with even more talented recruits in the near future.

“Especially when you get to the new signing period in November of next year (school year).  That will really give us an idea to figure out, are we attracting some athletes that maybe we were not really attracting before or are we able to sign some players that we were not signing before.  That is definitely a big part of this.” Hogue said

A baseball team of 15-18 year-olds from Kingsley, Pa seemed attracted, while they stood and watched the game.  They all agreed that Springs Brooks Stadium was better than going to watch their local Scranton RailRiders minor league team (New York Yankees AAA).  They said they liked the fact it did not feel enclosed, and they could play baseball year-round in South Carolina.

Hogue also credited the year-round sport’s success at CCU as a determining factor to build the stadium.

“We already had a great foundation, not only with our baseball program but our softball program too over the previous years.  The time had come to be able to give them both facilities that were commiserate with the kind of success that they had,” Hogue said

Former CCU catcher Joseph Anderson (1990-95) stood behind the seats, aligned directly behind the catcher.  He was part of that foundation.  This was the first time he attended a game in the new stadium due to work commitments.  He said having North Carolina, Clemson, and South Carolina baseball teams come to Conway on consecutive Tuesdays was unbelievable.  He pointed to the Brooks Football Stadium.

“You see that right there?  That right there and its success made this (baseball stadium) happen.  We’re reaping the rewards now,” he said.

Anderson was referring to the CCU football team and their success since Brooks Stadium was built in 2003.  He paused and seemed relieved when he said the baseball stadium and its location were going to get the recruits the Chanticleers want.

“This is going to put them on another level,” he said.

If there were any complaints, it was from the long lines formed at the concessions behind Anderson.  The lines stayed busy through the eighth inning.  The university planned for a large crowd and staffed more volunteer workers than usual, but they had trouble keeping pace.

“It’s kind of expected because of the newness for everyone,” CCU Dean of Students Travis Overton said.

Overton assisted the concession’s staff by walking down the lines to take food and beverage requests ahead of time, to help move the lines along for two hours.

“It’s all hands on deck here at Coastal. You help where it’s needed” he said.

He pointed to the upper deck where University President David Dicenzo stood, focused on the game, just like a Major League Baseball Owner focused on his team’s playoff game.

“He fosters a family atmosphere here at Coastal, and I think he’s succeeded,” Overton said.

David Parrett crossed home plate after his Grand Slam home run gave CCU a comfortable five-run lead.  Fans in teal high-fived, fist-pumped, and some danced by their seats, just like the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates’ family.

Joseph Anderson never moved from his position, behind home plate.  He stood there in a stoical manner with his arms crossed. He shook his head.“This is heaven, man.”