New Home for Bulldogs Dedicated posted 4/10/08
Baseball returns to campus

ADRIAN, Mich. – The new baseball stadium at Adrian College, Nicolay Field, was officially dedicated on Saturday, April 5, 2008 during a ceremony before the M.I.A.A. doubleheader against Tri-State University.

Prior to this season, the College had been playing home baseball games at Riverside Park for nearly 60 years. Thanks to a generous gift from Bud and Betty Nicolay and their family, baseball has finally returned to campus. Other donors including Frank and Shirley Dick who donated the funds for overhead lights were also honored.

“Adrian College has been a part of our adult life and we’re happy to do something like this,” said Bud Nicolay, a longtime trustee of the college.

Shirley Dick expressed her gratitude to the College earlier in the day at a luncheon.

“I want to thank Adrian College for accepting our gift,” said Shirley Dick. “We have a deep love for the people in Lenawee County. Life is about helping people and we want to thank you for letting us share this with you. We are so glad we are able to help the students of Adrian College.”

Her husband Frank also commented on the love they share for the community.

“Shirley and I have moved around a lot in our lives,” said Dick. “We’ve lived in Adrian for 24 years and we have made this our home for one reason – Adrian College.”

Others who were honored throughout the day include the contractors who worked hard to get to the field “game ready”.

“Kirk Valentine and Valentine Bros. and all the subcontractors braved the harsh weather this winter,” said President Jeffrey Docking. “They should be commended for their efforts and long hours of difficult work.”

The stadium is not yet complete but when it is finished it will feature all the amenities critical to the success of a baseball program in the 21st century. Some of these state-of-the-art features include a field completely covered in turf by Pro Grass, an inning-by-inning scoreboard, an underground drainage system, pro-baseball caliber dugouts, bullpens and batting cages.

The stands above each dugout with be covered and will hold 280 chair-back seats. Along the right and left field lines are bleachers and areas for spectators to stand. A dirt hill, which will eventually be grass, is in center field, allowing more room for spectators. Locker rooms, a heated press box, rest rooms, and a concession stand will also be in place once construction is completed.

In addition to Adrian College baseball games, Nicolay Field will also host the Adrian American Legion baseball team’s home games, an Adrian High School baseball tournament in May and will also be used by the Blissfield baseball team. The field, along with the renovated softball field, will also host a Division IV baseball and softball quarterfinal in June.

Athletic Director Mike Duffy says throughout the coming months Nicolay Field is slated to host more than 30 games.

“It’s a great field and it’s going to get used,” Duffy said. “That is the most important thing. We also hope each local high school baseball team will have an opportunity to play at least one game at the venue.”

Nicolay Field is located on the College campus near the Multisport Performance Stadium. An access road is located between the stadium and Arrington Ice Arena that leads spectators past the Craft Tennis Complex and new track and field to the baseball stadium. The stadium can also be accessed via Stratford Ave. off of W. Maumee St.

The bulldogs host Hope College in a doubleheader today (Thursday) beginning at 1 P.M.