SBU's Joe Nathan Field Makes Its Debut Friday

The Stony Brook University baseball team's schedule has taken it places like Boca Raton, Fla., Rock Hill, S.C., and South Orange, N.J. With the winter the way that it is in the northeast, traveling throughout February and March is standard for the Seawolves.

However, the severe weather through the winter and early spring caused the delay in construction to its new ballpark – Joe Nathan Field. As a result, the team has been shifted in every which direction, even for its own home games.

That is, until this weekend.

The FieldTurf venue, made possible by a $500,000 lead grant from SBU alum and Minnesota Twins reliever Joe Nathan, will make its debut on Friday at noon as the Seawolves take on Albany in the first game of a doubleheader.

Until Friday, Stony Brook had played its "home games" at Baseball Heaven in Yaphank, whereas others were moved to the opposition's home field. Last Tuesday, the team held its first practice at its new digs, and this weekend's for real. With one win or a Maine loss against Binghamton this weekend, the Seawolves will host the America East Conference tournament over Memorial Day Weekend, with an NCAA Tournament bid at stake.

In August 2008, the Joe Nathan Charitable Foundation gave $500,000 to the athletic department in support of constructing a new baseball facility on campus. Nathan, an All-Star closer for the Minnesota Twins, played shortstop at Stony Brook when it was a Division III program in the early 1990s. He was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the sixth round of the 1995 MLB draft, and in his 11 major league seasons, he has saved 250 games.

The Seawolves have the second-best winning percentage in the country, and with three victories this past weekend at Binghamton, it set the single-season record for wins in a season (37). Stony Brook has the chance to eclipse the 40-win mark with a strong showing against the Great Danes, who enter the weekend at 19-25.