For the past six seasons the Wabash baseball team has played in one of the premier minor league ballparks in the nation, Victory Field in Indianapolis. This year the Little Giants have added a trip to Gary, Indiana to the schedule with a nine-inning contest against the North Park University Vikings Tuesday evening at the US Steel "Steel Yard".
Wabash (8-17-1, 3-7 NCAC West) is coming off a two-game sweep of Earlham on Friday. The Little Giants pounded out 16 extra-base hits against the Quakers on the way to a 16-4 victory in game one and a 13-6 win in game two. Saturday’s doubleheader was postponed until April 28.
North Park (11-10, 6-2 CCIW) took a three-game series from sixth-ranked Augustana over the weekend. The Vikings split the Friday doubleheader, then took Saturday’s finale with an 11-8 victory to overcome a 6-1 deficit.
The Steel Yard is the home of the Gary Railcats, a member of the Northern League. The stadium opened in 2003 and has been the home of a high school baseball challenge for regional baseball teams each season. Several Wabash players --- including Matt Dodaro and Mike Schultz --- have played in the Steel Yard in the baseball challenges.
Prior to the 7 p.m. (CDT; 8 p.m. EDT) first pitch at the Steel Yard, Wabash alumni, parents, and fans are invited to join a pre-game gathering at Bennigan’s Restaurant. The restaurant has a patio overlooking right field at the Steel Yard. Little Giant supporters will get together at 5:30 p.m. for the pay-as-you-go event. Fans are asked to mention the Wabash College party when entering the restaurant. For more information about the pre-game activities, contact Mike Warren ’93 in the Alumni and Parent Relations Office (765-361-6053 or warrenm@wabash.edu). Admission to Tuesday night's game is $5 at the gate. No advanced ticket sales are available.
The Little Giants return to Mud Hollow Field Thursday for doubleheader against Robert Morris-Springfield beginning at 1:30 p.m. Wabash travels to Wooster, Ohio over the weekend to face the top-ranked and undefeated College of Wooster Fighting Scots in the three-game series.
Photos - (top right) Mike Nowak bats at Victory Field last season. Nowak and his Little Giant teammates will play at Victory Field later this season after heading to the Steel Yard Tuesday night.
(bottom left) A view of the Steel Yard during a Gary Railcats game (photo courtesy of the Gary Railcats).