It has been a week of firsts for two of New England’s Division 1 baseball programs.
At the University of Connecticut, Tuesday afternoon’s long-awaited opening of the Huskies’ new home at Elliot Ballpark left head coach Jim Penders (Vernon, Conn.) overcome with emotions.
After nearly 20 years of conversations beginning with the ballpark’s foremost donor and former UConn catcher Doug Elliot, other Dugout Club members and then including many, many, many others, Penders finally saw his dream for the program become a reality with a 2-0 win over in-state foe Central Connecticut State in the first game at the team’s breathtaking all-turf facility.
Gone are the worries of a harsh New England winter or springtime rains or even something else wreaking havoc on the old grass surface at the former J.O. Christian Field and causing the skipper some unnecessary stress.
