Baseball Field Overview

Baseball

Workman Family Baseball Field Construction Update

Story by Adam Peters, Millikin Sports Information

Construction continues on the south side of Millikin's campus at the new home of Millikin Baseball. Officially named the Workman Family Baseball Field, the new stadium will feature an all-artificial turf field, stadium seating, clubhouse, stadium lights, press box, concessions, and batting cages. The new facility will be the first of its kind in the CCIW with the features of a full field turf surface for baseball only, a clubhouse, and a location on campus.

With just over two months of construction completed, the outfield fence has been partially erected, and drainage and basal layers of the playing surface are already in place. Workers have battled the elements since the official breaking of ground on September 14. Since that time, the Millikin Baseball official Twitter page (@BigBlueBaseball) has provided daily updates on the progress of the stadium.

The on-campus stadium has already had an impact on the freshmen class of Millikin Baseball players, including local high school standout Trevor Durand of Mt. Zion, as well as Austin Hitchcock from Princeton, Texas. Hitchcock, a Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Star, has said "Hearing about the new field was a huge part of wanting to play for Millikin. Knowing that not too many fields at this level will be as great as Millikin's new field is very exciting."

Hitchcock was drawn to Millikin by the chance to play in Decatur and in a $5 million dollar stadium, even if the drive from Princeton to Decatur is over eleven hours long. The field will be one of the nicest college stadiums in Illinois at the time of completion, and it has already had a positive impact among the student body. "Every freshman is very excited about the new field and it's certainly something that we talk about on a daily basis. We're super excited to represent the program at our new and improved home," said Hitchcock.

The stadium is not the only factor that has players excited though. Trevor Durand is more excited to play for a program that is trending in the right direction, and the new stadium is just a bonus. "Playing on the nicest field in the CCIW is something that I am looking forward to. I think what I am most excited about is the home games," Durand said when asked about his excitement for the 2019 season.

Durand, who was selected as the 2018 Macon County Baseball Player of the Year by the Herald and Review, has said that every time he's out in public and people realize he's a Big Blue Baseball player, the topic of the new stadium comes up.

The public is still able to assist in adding additional amenities for the Big Blue Baseball program. Additional donations are being accepted for the addition of extra stadium seatbacks, individualized and custom lockers for players in the stadium's clubhouse, and additional technology to be added in the clubhouse for the purpose of player development. Donations made for stadium seatbacks can include a small honorary plaque on the back of the seat.
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For more details, contact the Millikin University Alumni and Development Office or Head Coach Brandon Townsend can be reached by e-mail at btownsend@millikin.edu or by calling the Millikin Athletics office at 217-424-6344. For updates on the progress of the stadium, follow @BigBlueBaseball on Twitter.
 
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Players Mentioned

Adam Peters

#2 Adam Peters

IF
6' 0"
Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Adam Peters

#2 Adam Peters

6' 0"
Junior
R/R
IF