Monongalia County Ballpark

Last updated
Wagener Field at Kendrick Family Ballpark
Mon County Ballpark.PNG
Monongalia County Ballpark.jpg
Monongalia County Ballpark
Location2040 Gyorko Drive
Granville, West Virginia 26534
Coordinates 39°38′41″N79°59′45″W / 39.64473°N 79.995838°W / 39.64473; -79.995838
Owner Monongalia County [1]
Operator West Virginia University [1]
Capacity 3,500 [2]
Record attendance4,357
May 31, 2019 Fordham
Field sizeFoul Lines: 325 feet
Power Alleys: 375 feet
Center Field: 400 feet
SurfaceSynthetic Turf
Construction
Broke groundOctober 17, 2013
OpenedApril 10, 2015
Construction costUS$25 million
Architect Populous [3]
DLA Architecture [3]
Structural engineerAllegheny Design Services [4]
Services engineerM–E Engineers, Inc.
General contractor Mascaro Construction [1]
Tenants
West Virginia Black Bears (MLBDL) 2015–present
West Virginia Mountaineers (NCAA) 2015–present

Wagener Field at Monongalia County Ballpark is a baseball stadium in Granville, West Virginia. The stadium, opened April 10, 2015, is the home of the baseball team of West Virginia University (WVU), a member of the Big 12 Conference, and the West Virginia Black Bears, a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League.

Contents

Construction

Plans were announced to build a new stadium for the West Virginia Mountaineers baseball team in 2013. [5] Ground was broken for the new ballpark at University Town Centre, an off-campus shopping and entertainment complex in Granville, adjacent to WVU's home city of Morgantown, on October 17, 2013. The ballpark has 2,500 fixed seats with additional hillside and club seating, a fan amenity deck, and a park that is open year-round. [6] The field has a synthetic surface, other than the clay pitcher's mound. [7]

In August 2014, the Jamestown Jammers of the Class A Short Season New York–Penn League, a Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball, announced that they would move to West Virginia, taking the name "West Virginia Black Bears", and use Monongalia County Ballpark as their home stadium. [8] [9] The Black Bears were affiliated with the Pirates from their inception until MLB's reorganization of the minors after the 2020 season. They then became a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. [10]

A panoramic view of the stadium as seen from the third base line. Mon County Ballpark Pano.jpg
A panoramic view of the stadium as seen from the third base line.

As a result of inclement weather in February 2015, the scheduled opening of the stadium was pushed back to April 10, 2015. [11] [12]

Attendance

In 2015, the Mountaineers ranked 39th among Division I baseball programs in attendance, averaging 1,801 per home game.[ citation needed ]

Milestones

AchievementRecord
Largest Attendance4,355 (May 31, 2019 vs Fordham)* [13]
Overall Record in Facility45-27*
Big 12 Record in Facility18-18*
Record vs. Ranked Opponents9-8*
Record vs. State Opponents3-0*
1st Game(April 10, 2015 vs. Butler)
1st Night Game(April 10, 2015 vs. Butler)
1st Win6-5 (13 innings) (April 10, 2015 vs. Butler)
1st Loss5-3 (April 14, 2015 vs. Penn State)
1st Big 12 Win6-5 (April 18, 2015 vs. #23 Oklahoma)
1st Win over Ranked Team6-5 (April 18, 2015 vs. #23 Oklahoma)
*As of the 2017 season

Awards

In the ballpark's inaugural season, it was named the best short season Single A ballpark in the country according to BallparkDigest.com. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York–Penn League</span> American sports league in minor league baseball

The New York–Penn League (NYPL) was a Minor League Baseball league that operated in the northeastern United States from 1939 to 2020. Classified as a Class A Short Season league, its season started in June, after major-league teams signed their amateur draft picks to professional contracts, and ended in early September.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morgantown, West Virginia</span> City in West Virginia

Morgantown is a city in and the county seat of Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States, situated along the Monongahela River. The most populous city in North Central West Virginia and the third-most populous city in the state, Morgantown is best known as the home of West Virginia University. The population was 30,347 at the 2020 census. The city serves as the anchor of the Morgantown metropolitan area, which had a population of 138,176 in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Virginia University</span> Public university in Morgantown, West Virginia, US.

West Virginia University (WVU) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Morgantown, West Virginia. Its other campuses are those of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Beckley, Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser, and clinical campuses for the university's medical and school at Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston and the Eastern Division at the WVU Medicine Berkeley and Jefferson Medical Centers. WVU Extension Service provides outreach with offices in all 55 West Virginia counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Williamsport Crosscutters</span> Minor league baseball team

The Williamsport Crosscutters are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. They are located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and play their home games at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field. From 1994 to 2020, they were a Minor League Baseball team of the Class A Short Season New York–Penn League until MLB's reorganization of the minors after the 2020 season. Prior to this, they were affiliates of the Chicago Cubs (1994–1998), Pittsburgh Pirates (1999–2006), and Philadelphia Phillies (2007–2020).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamestown Jammers</span> Minor league baseball team

The Jamestown Jammers were a minor league baseball team based in Jamestown, New York from 1994 until 2014. The team was the Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates and played in the New York–Penn League. The team played all of their home games at Russell Diethrick Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Virginia University Institute of Technology</span> Public college in Beckley, West Virginia

West Virginia University Institute of Technology is a public college in Beckley, West Virginia. It is a divisional campus of West Virginia University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Backyard Brawl</span> College football rivalry

The Backyard Brawl is an American college football rivalry between the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and the West Virginia University Mountaineers. The term "Backyard Brawl" has also been used to refer to college basketball games played annually or semi-annually and may also be used to refer to other athletic competitions between the two schools. It is a registered trademark for both universities, and refers to the close proximity of the two universities, separated by 75 miles (105 km) along Interstate 79.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Virginia Mountaineers</span> Athletic program of West Virginia University

The West Virginia Mountaineers are the athletic teams that represent West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. The school is a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I. The Mountaineers have been a member of the Big 12 Conference since 2012. At that time, the Mountaineers joined the Mid-American Conference as an affiliate member for men's soccer. The men's soccer team now competes in the Sun Belt Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oliver Luck</span> American football player and sports executive (born 1960)

Oliver Francis Luck is an American business executive and former professional football player. He is currently the executive director of the United Athletic Conference, a new NCAA Division I FCS conference starting play in 2023 as a football-only merger of the ASUN Conference and Western Athletic Conference. He was the CEO and Commissioner of the XFL until it suspended operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to that, he was Director of Intercollegiate Athletes at West Virginia University (WVU), his alma mater, and an executive with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in charge of the organization's regulatory functions. Luck played football professionally as a quarterback for five seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Houston Oilers (1982–1986). He was also the first president and general manager of the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer (MLS). Under his watch, the Dynamo won the MLS Cup in 2006 and 2007.

North Central West Virginia is a region of the U.S. state of West Virginia. The region's largest cities are Morgantown, Fairmont, and Clarksburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Virginia Mountaineers football</span> American college football team

The West Virginia Mountaineers football team represents West Virginia University in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of college football. West Virginia plays its home games at Milan Puskar Stadium on the campus of West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. The Mountaineers have won or shared a total of 15 conference championships, including eight Southern Conference titles and seven Big East Conference titles. The Mountaineers compete in the Big 12 Conference and are led by head coach Neal Brown.

University High School is a senior high school in unincorporated Monongalia County, West Virginia, near Morgantown. A part of Monongalia County Schools, it houses just over 1,250 students. It is a part of the Monongalia County Schools. Students largely come from the 2 feeder schools, Mountaineer Middle School, and Westwood Middle School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marshall Thundering Herd baseball</span>

The Marshall Thundering Herd baseball team represents the Marshall University in NCAA Division I college baseball and competes in the Sun Belt Conference. The current head coach of the Herd is Greg Beals. Marshall plays its home games at Jack Cook Field, a 3,500 seat on-campus facility which opened for the 2024 season.

Hawley Field is a baseball field in Morgantown, West Virginia, United States. Along with Appalachian Power Park in Charleston, West Virginia, it served as one of two home venues of the West Virginia Mountaineers baseball team before the new Monongalia County Ballpark opened in April 2015. The stadium holds 1,500 spectators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jedd Gyorko</span> American baseball player (born 1988)

Jedd Lindon Gyorko is an American former professional baseball second baseman and third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Milwaukee Brewers. He was previously the manager of the West Virginia Black Bears of the MLB Draft League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Virginia Mountaineers baseball</span>

The West Virginia Mountaineers baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate baseball program of West Virginia University, located in Morgantown, West Virginia, United States. The program has been a member of the NCAA Division I Big 12 Conference since the start of the 2013 season. The program currently plays at Monongalia County Ballpark in the adjacent city of Granville. Randy Mazey has been the team's head coach since prior to the 2013 season. As of the end of the 2023 season, the program has appeared in 14 NCAA tournaments. It has won five conference tournament championships and 16 regular season conference and division titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1891 West Virginia Mountaineers football team</span> American college football season

The 1891 West Virginia Mountaineers football team represented West Virginia University in the 1891 college football season. Led by Frederick Lincoln Emory in his first and only year as the Mountaineers' head coach, this was the first West Virginia Mountaineers football team. They lost the only game they played Washington & Jefferson, 72–0, at the Show Lot in Morgantown, West Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Virginia Black Bears</span> Minor league baseball team

The West Virginia Black Bears are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. They are located in Granville, West Virginia, and play their home games at Monongalia County Ballpark, which is across the Monongahela River from Morgantown and West Virginia University. From 2015 to 2020, they were a Minor League Baseball team of the New York–Penn League. They were the Class A Short Season affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates from their inception until MLB's reorganization of the minors after the 2020 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 West Virginia Mountaineers baseball team</span>

The 2015 West Virginia Mountaineers baseball team will represent West Virginia University during the 2015 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Mountaineers will play their home games at the newly constructed Monongalia County Ballpark as a member of the Big 12 Conference. They will be led by head coach Randy Mazey, in his 3rd season at West Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 West Virginia Mountaineers baseball team</span>

The 2016 West Virginia Mountaineers baseball team represents West Virginia University during the 2016 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Mountaineers play their home games at Monongalia County Ballpark as a member of the Big 12 Conference. They are led by head coach Randy Mazey, in his 4th season at West Virginia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Dovey, Grant (January 29, 2014). "More Ballpark Details Emerge". West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Monongalia County Ballpark". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Muret, Don (September 8, 2014). "Under Construction: Reviewing the Building Plans". SportsBusiness Journal. p. 22. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  4. ↑ Howell, Michael (February 17, 2015). "Athletic Facilities: Structural Part of Mon County Field Near Completion". Allegheny Design Services. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  5. ↑ "WVU Board Approves Land Buy for Baseball Stadium". WBOY . Morgantown. Associated Press. June 6, 2013. Archived from the original on June 7, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  6. ↑ "New Ballpark". West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  7. ↑ Dovey, Grant (August 21, 2014). "New Ballpark Construction Update". West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  8. ↑ Vingle, Mitch (August 23, 2014). "Morgantown Lands NY-Penn League Baseball Team". The Charleston Gazette . Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  9. ↑ "New NYPL club to be called the Black Bears". Minor League Baseball. October 22, 2014. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Black Bears retain affiliation with MLB, are founding member of Major League Baseball Draft League". West Virginia Black Bears. Minor League Baseball. November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  11. ↑ Fragale, Michael (March 5, 2015). "Inclement Weather Delays Scheduled WVU Ballpark Opening". West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  12. ↑ Cassazza, Mike (April 9, 2015). "Wind, Outfield Walls Among Quirks of Monongalia County Ballpark". Charleston Daily Mail . Retrieved April 15, 2015.
  13. ↑ Dovey, Grant (April 10, 2015). "Baseball Opens New Ballpark with Walk-off Win". West Virginia University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  14. ↑ Fitzsimmons, Jack (27 June 2015). "Monongalia County Ballpark Voted the Best in Short-Season Single A". WBOY. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.