New baseball facilities would aid recruiting, coach says

This site (A) almost directly opposite Marshall Stadium offers great visibility because it is only a few hundred yards east of the main campus along Third Avenue, according to the College of Business's feasibility study released in February 1999.

Marshall baseball coach Dave Piepenbrink says recruiting relies heavily on a team's facilities.

And the possibility of a new baseball field may provide Peipenbrink with that base.

This site (A) almost directly opposite Marshall Stadium offers great visibility because it is only a few hundred yards east of the main campus along Third Avenue, according to the College of Business's feasibility study released in February 1999.

"When you bring people in, the only thing we are losing recruits to is the facilities," said Piepenbrink, who played for Marshall baseball 1987-90. "Right now that's kind of the last hurdle to get over to move us to the next level."

That hurdle soon may be cleared.

Marshall's baseball team plays its home at University Heights on U.S. 60 East, but may soon receive a new baseball field, he said. A proposal to sell the Marshall-owned field would help to pay for the new facilities.

If finalized, the project would take about three years to complete, he said.

Dr. K. Edward Grose, senior vice president of operations, said Marshall would have to get permission through the Legislature and University System of West Virginia Board of Trustees to sell the University Heights property.

"At this time, we don't know how much money the property is worth," Grose said. "We would have to get it appraised and try to acquire the property.

According to a feasibility study done by the College of Business Center for Business and Econ-omic Research, the predicted cost of a stadium seating 4,500 seats would be $7.1 million.

The analysis also predicted the project's total first year impact on economic output would be $13.1 million, with $5.5 million consisting of compensation to area employees.