{"id":223540,"date":"2024-03-25T10:57:32","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T14:57:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=223540"},"modified":"2024-05-13T18:23:44","modified_gmt":"2024-05-13T22:23:44","slug":"at-yogi-berra-stadium-its-a-brand-new-ball-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2024\/03\/25\/at-yogi-berra-stadium-its-a-brand-new-ball-game\/","title":{"rendered":"At Yogi Berra Stadium, It\u2019s a Brand New Ball Game"},"content":{"rendered":"

Red Hawk baseball is off to a <\/span>hot start<\/span><\/a> this season at Yogi Berra Stadium, but as <\/span>Montclair State University President Jonathan Koppell was warming up to throw <\/span>a ceremonial first pitch<\/span>, temperatures were quickly dropping. Fans bundled in blankets as Koppell and the team emerged from the bullpen onto their field of dreams \u2013 the upgraded turf that\u2019s part of a $5.3 million renovation that was being celebrated on Friday, March 22 as a <\/span>new era for baseball at Yogi Berra Stadium<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The stadium is now home field for both <\/span>Montclair and New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)<\/span><\/a>, which partnered on the stadium upgrades. Built just over 25 years ago along with the <\/span>Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center<\/span><\/a>, the complex honors the legendary New York Yankees Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra, who called Montclair home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI worked at Yogi Berra Stadium for a decade and it has been such a special place for so many and a ballpark where many of my core memories have been created,\u201d says <\/span>Billy Pinckney \u201924, who started a career in sports communications as a batboy for the New Jersey Jackals, the minor league team that played there for years before their move to Paterson in 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n

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An aerial view of the new turf field at Yogi Berra Stadium. (Photo by Paul McGroarty).<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s incredibly exciting to see the renovations at Yogi Berra Stadium and understand the kind of impact it will have on the players,\u201d adds <\/span>Pinckney, who was among the alumni and students in the stands on the unseasonably cold Friday afternoon to see the<\/span> Red Hawks split a doubleheader<\/span><\/a> with <\/span>Massachusetts Institute of Technology.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the bullpen, <\/span>Matt Shuhet played a game of catch, tossing the ball and chatting with President Koppell, who was warming up before the ceremonial first pitch.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe renovations at Yogi are beyond our expectations,\u201d says Shuhet, a junior Business major. \u201cThe new playing surface as well as professional-level bullpens and cages, and all the new additions, truly make the stadium feel like a professional ballpark.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Montclair\u2019s <\/span>Capital Planning and Project Management team<\/span> brought the vision for improvements to life. During spring break, while the Red Hawk players were away on a winning-streak trip to California, Project Manager <\/span>Adam McGuire<\/span> provided a behind-the-scenes tour, <\/span>pointing out the upgrades in electric and technology, the <\/span>new energy-saving LED lights<\/span><\/a> that <\/span>make a significant impact on the stadium\u2019s environmental footprint while <\/span>meeting the high standards for Division I NJIT to broadcast on ESPN+<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to the new turf, McGuire\u2019s list of upgrades continues: <\/span>pitch counter, dugout to bullpen phone, outfield wall replacement, new storage building, new bullpens and batting cages, <\/span>new scoreboard and signage celebrating Montclair\u2019s three National Champion teams (1987, 1993, 2000).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we have now is one of the nicest facilities on the East Coast and in college baseball,\u201d says Head Coach Dave <\/span>Lorber. \u201c<\/span>We’re very fortunate every day to call it our home.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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At the locker room reveal, Head Coach Dave Lorber, far left, welcomes the team as they enter for the first time ahead of the 2024 season. Lorber had a hand in its design, wanting to ensure that the student athletes have a comfortable place to bond, to do homework and have fun.\u00a0 (Photo by Mike Peters)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Players relax in the upgraded dugout between games of the March 22 double-header. According to Coach Lorber, the renovations enhance recruiting efforts in-state and nationally for players seeking an excellent student-athlete experience. (Photo by John J. LaRosa)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u201cThe beautiful enhancements and upgrades throughout this iconic stadium would not have been possible without the contributions of NJIT,\u201d Koppell says. \u201cWe are grateful for their partnership, and are so excited about the opportunities that exist for both schools to use this space in a wide variety of ways that benefit everyone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Feliciano School of Business students are helping run The Hill, a newly renovated concession area this season at Yogi Berra Stadium, as a capstone project for the Hospitality and Tourism department senior seminar course. The name, the result of market research conducted by Feliciano students, makes the connection between Yogi Berra\u2019s boyhood neighborhood in St. Louis and the elevated Red Hawks perch for the stadium and campus.

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<\/div>Stadium food and drink at The Hill will feature a rotating roster of local businesses \u2013 the first weekend featuring Montclair Brewery and Se\u00f1or Tacos of Bridgewater \u2013 to provide students experiences in community engagement, operating and promoting community partnerships through stadium concessions, says Associate Hospitality and Tourism Professor Josh Lupinek.<\/span><\/p>\n

All the stadium enhancements will position the facility as a location capable of hosting conference and NCAA baseball tournaments as well as other high-profile events, making it a year-round facility that will serve the baseball teams, all students and the community at large.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Red Hawks won two more games over the weekend, bolstering their record to 16-3. \u201cThese incredible facilities encourage us all to play at an equally high level. As a team we hold ourselves to very high standards and this new field feels as though it matches the caliber of play we are capable of,\u201d says pitcher Mike Timberlake, a sophomore Biochemistry major.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re finding ways to win, it’s not always easy but the team plays the game hard, they care, they care about each other and they’re fun to be around,\u201d Lorber says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI’m hopeful that we can continue playing good baseball and we’ll see where it goes. I know that the surrounding community is hungry to be back at Yogi Berra Stadium \u2026 We’re not the Yankees, but we can pretend,\u201d Lorber jokes. \u201cYou know, we’ve got great pinstripes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Photo Gallery: <\/b><\/p>\n

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Players autographed the 2024 Presidential First Pitch baseball.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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It felt more like football weather than spring baseball, with fans bundled in blankets, hats and gloves for the stadium renovation celebration. Pitcher <\/span>Christian Addotta<\/span>\u2019s parents and grandfather were in the stands, from left, Allison and Michael Addotta and Frank Colonna.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Montclair President Jonathan Koppell throws the ceremonial first pitch.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Red Hawk Sam Angelo, right, has extended his year-long on-base streak to 44 consecutive games. A team leader, he caught the ceremonial first pitch from President Koppell.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Alumni and former players with President Koppell, from left, John Szabo \u201988, James Downing \u201968, Buddy VanPelt \u201967, and Anthony Abrantes \u201904. Szabo and Abrantes continue to give back to the University. Abrantes serves as a University trustee and Szabo sits on the advisory board of the College of Science and Mathematics.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Hospitality, Sports, Events and Tourism<\/b><\/a> majors are learning how to run the concessions, assisting on March 22 with a local microbrew in a pop-up taproom. From left are senior Luis Torres; Associate Professor Josh Lupinek; senior Jenna Antonucci; Denise Ford Sawadogo, general manager of Montclair Brewery; and senior Dante Christoforatos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Traditional street style tacos were on the menu of the Se\u00f1or Tacos food truck, which will return for several\u00a0 weekend home games. <\/span>Additional community partners scheduled this spring at The Hill are Double Tap Brewing, Four City Brewing Company, Newark Local Beer, and Seven Tribesman Brewery for beverage as well as Ann\u2019s Catering, Chick-fil-A, JJ\u2019s Hotdogs, Mezoco Catering, Silantro Lime Tacos, Tony Boy\u2019s Sandwich House and Viva Birria Tacos for food. Students from the Feliciano School of Business will facilitate their visits to campus and assist with cross-promotional activities.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Story by Staff Writer<\/i><\/b> Marilyn Joyce Lehren<\/i><\/b><\/a>. <\/i><\/b>Photo Gallery by <\/b>John J. LaRosa.<\/b><\/p>\n

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