Metrodome provides new experience
Jodi Jurik
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: Sports
Even though the baseball diamond behind the Wellness Center will be covered with snow for a couple more weeks, the baseball will head to the Metrodome in Minneapolis on Feb. 8 to face Morningside College in their season opener.
The team has prepared for their opener at the Metrodome by practicing inside since the season started. However, there are many differences between indoor and outdoor baseball. The players and coaches have had to deal with these differences every day at practice.
"Playing in the Wellness Center gets redundant and hard,'' Alan Quijano, pitching coach, said, "because its like playing in a jail cell with walls all the way around, there is no grass and no dirt. Plus it's also hard with all the action and distraction going on upstairs with the weight room and track."
The strengths of the baseball team are their pitching and their defense.
"If they do these things, then they'll have a successful season," Quijano said.
Since baseball is played outside it makes it difficult for the team to prepare early for their upcoming season.
"Being an outdoor sport and practicing indoors is a lot different and its not easy practicing inside." Quijano said.
Not only is it difficult for the baseball team to practice indoors but there are also other teams who want to use the Wellness Center for their off-season practices.
"I've had a lot of experience playing on the field," Dunn said. "It's a lot different then playing outside because of the landscape and the ceiling and the compressed air."
With all these difficulties, the team is ready for their chance to play in the Metrodome.
"Playing in the Metrodome is pretty cool, it's something different than any other stadium because a lot of professionals have played there," Jon Bianchi, junior pitcher, said. " It has a lot of history to it."
The Metrodome has been a home to many great players in history.
Matt Dunn, junior catcher, said, "Its an exciting experience because a lot of great baseball players have played there like Joe Mauer, catcher for the Minnesota Twins and Kirby Puckett, centerfielder for the Minnesota Twins. Also many great football players have played there like Brett Favre."
Because of its history, some players have said they are nervous going into the season opener.
"Its going to be overwhelming at first because it's the first game of the season, and the outfielders are going to see a fly ball for once because we aren't going to be in the Wellness Center," Delvin Hogans, sophomore outfielder, said. "It's going to be a nice change from playing in the Wellness Center to playing in an actual stadium. Playing at the Metrodome makes us feel like we are in the Big Leagues because a lot of professionals have played there and it's on a major league field."
The team has prepared for their opener at the Metrodome by practicing inside since the season started. However, there are many differences between indoor and outdoor baseball. The players and coaches have had to deal with these differences every day at practice.
"Playing in the Wellness Center gets redundant and hard,'' Alan Quijano, pitching coach, said, "because its like playing in a jail cell with walls all the way around, there is no grass and no dirt. Plus it's also hard with all the action and distraction going on upstairs with the weight room and track."
The strengths of the baseball team are their pitching and their defense.
"If they do these things, then they'll have a successful season," Quijano said.
Since baseball is played outside it makes it difficult for the team to prepare early for their upcoming season.
"Being an outdoor sport and practicing indoors is a lot different and its not easy practicing inside." Quijano said.
Not only is it difficult for the baseball team to practice indoors but there are also other teams who want to use the Wellness Center for their off-season practices.
"I've had a lot of experience playing on the field," Dunn said. "It's a lot different then playing outside because of the landscape and the ceiling and the compressed air."
With all these difficulties, the team is ready for their chance to play in the Metrodome.
"Playing in the Metrodome is pretty cool, it's something different than any other stadium because a lot of professionals have played there," Jon Bianchi, junior pitcher, said. " It has a lot of history to it."
The Metrodome has been a home to many great players in history.
Matt Dunn, junior catcher, said, "Its an exciting experience because a lot of great baseball players have played there like Joe Mauer, catcher for the Minnesota Twins and Kirby Puckett, centerfielder for the Minnesota Twins. Also many great football players have played there like Brett Favre."
Because of its history, some players have said they are nervous going into the season opener.
"Its going to be overwhelming at first because it's the first game of the season, and the outfielders are going to see a fly ball for once because we aren't going to be in the Wellness Center," Delvin Hogans, sophomore outfielder, said. "It's going to be a nice change from playing in the Wellness Center to playing in an actual stadium. Playing at the Metrodome makes us feel like we are in the Big Leagues because a lot of professionals have played there and it's on a major league field."
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