91传媒

Building New Memories

From snow to sunburn, the 91传媒 Men鈥檚 Baseball season plays through any and all weather conditions.  From early mornings to late evenings for both practice and games, the team sees it all.  Except the backdrop of the 91传媒 campus. 

鈥淚 love being part of a baseball program being built from the ground up.  It鈥檚 taken an enormous amount of hard work, but has been so gratifying,鈥� said Austin Gerding, who joined the Mountaineer baseball team in 2020, recruited from Chemeketa Community College.  鈥淕etting a field on campus would be one of the final pieces of bringing Mountie Baseball to the University and the community.鈥�  

Like so many, former 91传媒 baseball players remember the sinking feeling when the news was announced in 2006 to cut the baseball program. Coaches, players, everyone were saddened for the players and for the loss of this program, knowing how many students 鈥� past and at the time 鈥� came to play baseball for Eastern.  “It was tough. Like all sports, baseball is more than just a sport.  It brings people together,” Director of Athletics at 91传媒 Anji Weissenfluh said.  “Baseball was a connection to Eastern.  Coming out in the fresh spring air with the campus in the backdrop, like it used to be, as the team played – it was an experience.”

91传媒 baseball has a history nearly as long as the school itself, dating back to the 1930s, further deepening the roots of the team into the history of the school.  The previous field, formerly located on the southeast end of campus, was overhauled leading to the development of the new Fieldhouse.  

Now, with renewed support from donors, a new on-campus homefield is becoming a reality, but the campaign still needs additional support.聽聽

鈥淭he field is the home-plate of the program.  It helps the coaches recruit the best players.  It helps us bring students to 91传媒 鈥� now, and for generations to come.  By supporting it, you get to invest in the team, the campus, the community 鈥� everything.  It鈥檚 for the future,鈥� said Emily Adams, Executive Director of Philanthropy in University Advancement.  鈥淚t鈥檚 a university priority to build a competition-level baseball field on campus because of how much this means to our students, our university, and our community.鈥�

Since the 2019 announcement of bringing back baseball to the 91传媒 campus, baseball alumni, local and regional community members, and other friends of the program and university couldn鈥檛 be more thrilled to see baseball鈥檚 return.  It is through this excitement and support, the Foundation has already seen an upswing in private donations, such as the most recent $100,000 pledge from an 91传媒 graduate and baseball alumnus’ family trust.  鈥淭his type of support is so overwhelming and sends a powerful message to our players and our community – people are committed to the long-term vitality of this program and what the students are working to achieve,鈥� Adams said of the gift.

Weissenfluh stressed the importance of raising private funding as soon as possible to bring to reality an on-campus home field, 鈥渟tudent-athletes deserve it and we want them to take pride in their field.鈥� Weissenfluh said the new field will be a top tier facility and a source of pride for students and alumni. 鈥�91传媒 has a long history of success in sports,鈥� Weissenfluh said. 鈥淲e want to build something they are proud to be a part of.鈥�

Easton Watterson, another 2020 recruit who joined the program from Treasure Valley Community College echoed this sentiment, 鈥淗aving a baseball field on campus will allow players to perform better – and will give our friends, family, alumni, and the community a great venue to watch our games.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 time to get the proverbial team back together because we need this and we want this,鈥�  Adams exuded.  鈥淲e鈥檙e committed to rallying everyone together to get a homefield back on campus – to further connect with alumni and the community. Now鈥檚 the time – it鈥檚 at least a $3 million project to make this a reality.  We鈥檝e just started, but we still have a ways to go to get there.鈥�