Head coach Paul Mainieri at the new Alex Box Stadium
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
BATON ROUGE — A new chapter was added to the magnificent history of the LSU baseball program Tuesday, as the top-ranked Tigers practiced in the New Alex Box Stadium for the first time.
The squad worked out for approximately 2.5 hours, participating in rounds of infield drills and batting practice on a cool, clear evening.
“February 3, 2009 is a day I will always remember,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “Today is the beginning of a new era for LSU baseball, and we’re very excited about what it means for our program. This program has maintained a level of excellence for many years, and I think it is appropriate to have a facility that demonstrates the commitment to baseball at LSU.
“Today was also important because I wanted our players to get on the field as quickly as possible so they can acclimate to a new environment. I felt the sooner we got out here, the more comfortable the players will be by the time we play our first game.”
The 2009 season begins on February 20 when LSU faces Villanova in the new stadium, which will seat approximately 9,000 fans.
The new stadium is located at the corner of Nicholson Drive and Gourrier Lane, about 200 yards south of the original Alex Box Stadium. The new park features the same field dimensions as the original stadium – 330 feet down the lines, 365 feet in the power alleys and 405 feet in center field.
LSU is No. 1 in the Collegiate Baseball and ESPN/USA Today preseason polls, and the Tigers are No. 2 in the Baseball America, NCBWA and Rivals.com polls.
“We’re ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the polls, we’re moving into a new ball park,” Mainieri said. “How much more exciting can it be?”
