The Missouri Western baseball program is very excited about their home games in the future. They will finally be playing at home.

A new baseball stadium is planned to be built on the Missouri Western campus. The Griffons are thrilled about the opportunity to finally play baseball in front of a home crowd here on campus. 

“It’s always exciting to play in front of a home crowd,” Missouri Western baseball coach Buzz Verduzco said. “We don’t know much about it, other than we are enthusiastic and excited that it is going to happen.”

The Griffon baseball squad finished last year with a 28-23 record, and boasted a 21-14 conference record. They currently share a stadium with the minor league St. Joseph Blacksnakes at Phil Welch Stadium.

With a successful season and a playoff appearance under their belts, Coach Verduzco and the team are looking forward for what’s to come. 

“A lot of players from the past, present, as well as future will have put a lot of hard work and dedication into this program,” Verduzco said.

As the Max Experience recently finished phase two with the completion of the new basketball floor, the Missouri Western athletics program looks toward phase three. The Max Experience has already brought us admission to Western athletics, free food and drinks at athletic events, a new turf playing surface at Spratt Stadium and a new basketball gym floor.  Phase three will bring a new baseball stadium to Missouri Western.

Most of the baseball players are in the dark when it comes to the new stadium. Sophomore pitcher Jon Bond thinks having a new stadium on campus would be a great idea and help the baseball team become more popular.

“We have heard about it, but haven’t found out any details yet,”Bond said. “That would be awesome though.”

The timeframe for the building of the stadium is relatively unknown as well.

“We would like to get it going as soon as possible,” Verduzco said. “We’re very excited that we are at this point.  Hopefully it will happen soon.”

It seems that the process will be on hold until we find a new athletic director. Mark Linder, former athletic director was a huge part of the Max Experience. 

“It will become clearer after a new athletic director is hired as far as the timeline goes,” Verduzco said. Missouri Western hopes to have a new one in place by the beginning of October.

Phase four will involve upgrades to press boxes and student sections at the stadium. Phase four will also bring the addition of student success suites, an auxiliary fitness center, additional office space and a Griffon Zone (similar to ESPN Zone) in the Looney Complex.