St. Joe’s finds new baseball facility

The interest in baseball is definitely growing at St. Joseph’s Academy in Boalsburg.

Two years ago, everything was in place for the Wolves to open their inaugural season. A schedule was established and uniforms were purchased. Unfortunately, there were only seven student athletes interested in playing. The season had to be canceled.

Last season, the Wolves found themselves with a roster boasting 13 names. The team played a full season, finished with an even 8-8 record and was invited to play in the district playoffs.

The program is continuing its growth in 2016. Head coach Greg Herman’s roster boasts 20 names now and there’s already talk of starting a junior varsity program in 2017.

Perhaps most importantly, the Wolves have found a home. Last year, the team was granted permission to play its home games at the Shaner Sports Complex, and this season, the school has entered into a partnership with The Shaner Corporation and the State College Baseball Club to make the complex its full-time home.

Herman and St. Joe’s athletic director Chad Walsh discussed the partnership with Centre County Gazette last week.

‘It is very important that the St. Joseph’s baseball program has a quality facility to play games and develop baseball players,’ said Herman. ‘The baseball program strives to be a premier program that will attract scholarly Christian athletes.

“The Shaner Sports Complex is a quality facility and the professional atmosphere generated during games is unparalleled in local high school baseball. This gives our players, as well as visiting players, an awesome experience.’

According to Walsh, the desire to make the Shaner Sports Complex the team’s home base came about after the team played a full season on its diamond in 2015. He said following the season, there were serious discussions for a more permanent solution to a home field, with the desire to make it happen at Shaner. Through those discussions, St. Joe’s was able to team up with Shaner and the State College Baseball Club to officially make the complex the Wolves’ home.

Walsh said both fields at the complex, located off of Route 322 in Potter Township, are better than 90 percent of the fields the team will play on this year.

‘Having a home field with the amenities and playing surface that the facility offers will make for a great experience for our athletes and fans,’ Walsh said.

Although details of the contract are confidential, Walsh said the entire program is excited about this opportunity and the relationship it has been able to build with Lance Shaner and the State College Baseball Club. The school and program, however, will be busy at the field.

‘Our team and volunteers will assist with maintenance and improvement projects where we are needed,’ said Walsh. ‘The team and the school take pride in the fact that with some cooperation, the fields will remain the best in the area for our athletes.’

There are possibilities for expansion, as well.

‘We are excited about the possibilities of expansion in use of the facilities,’ said Walsh, ‘though nothing is set in stone at this point.’

Walsh talked down the rumor of a future football stadium at the site.

‘Nothing like that has been planned, yet,’ he said. ‘But, again, we are definitely excited to continue to build a partnership and we’re excited about what that partnership could bring.’

The Wolves are scheduled to play 10 home games this year.