Stadium nears completion

By Brian Witter

What first began in the field of dreams has now flourished into a reality.

The 1,500-seat, eponymous Stephen Schott Baseball Stadium will open Saturday, and tickets for opening day have already sold out. Members of the Ruff Riders are planning to camp out overnight on Friday, hoping to grab the remaining student section seats.

In January 2004, Santa Clara alumnus, former college baseball player and former owner of the Oakland Athletics made an initial $4-million pledge to build a new stadium to house Bronco baseball.

"It will certainly be one of the finest college baseball facilities on the West Coast, and promises to play a vital part of the re-emergence of our program as a national baseball power," Athletic Director Dan Coonan said in a written statement.

The Schott stadium will accommodate all the elements of the baseball program, which will include a 5,000-square-foot clubhouse, a VIP suite, a satellite training room and a complete laundry facility.

Originally scheduled to open earlier in the 2005 season, the stadium suffered construction setbacks because of a lack of funding and severe weather. But with the generosity of donors and alumni, and a final construction push for Saturday's deadline, "the Schott" will be ready for use.

The new stadium marks the first time Bronco baseball has had its own home on campus, having used Buck Shaw Stadium since 1963.

* Contact Brian Witter at (408) 551-1918 or bwitter@scu.edu.