The Loyola baseball team unveiled the final piece of its new look earlier this week.
Already armed with a new coach and a new team philosophy, Loyola held a press conference Tuesday afternoon to introduce Segnette Field as its new home ballpark.
The stadium, which opened last May, is located on the grounds of the Alario Center in Westwego.
From a podium in the middle of Segnette’s infield, representatives from both the Loyola athletic department and the Alario Center addressed the media, announcing a one-year agreement that makes Segnette Field the new home of Wolfpack baseball.
Loyola athletic director Jerry Hernandez was visibly thrilled as he introduced his baseball team’s new home.
“We are excited about this partnership between our department and Jefferson Parish,” he said, television cameras recording his every word. “This gives our kids the chance to play in a multimillion dollar facility,” he said.
According to Michael Samardzija, marketing manager of the Alario Center, Segnette Field cost approximately $2.5 million to build and will seat 650 people; it has a professional sound system, as well as field lights worthy of a triple-A minor league ballpark.
It also has a cantilevered roof, which eliminates the need for support beams in the stands, giving the fans an unobstructed view of the field.
According to assistant baseball coach Brett Simpson, all of Segnette’s amenities put it head and shoulders above the ‘Pack’s old home, Wesley Barrow Stadium, and made the decision to move even easier.
“Wesley Barrow was not an ideal situation,” he said.
A below-average high school stadium, it had no press box, no sound system, only one bullpen, and several support beams that tended to block fans’ views.
In addition, Simpson said, the team was forced to do all of the necessary maintenance and manual labor at Wesley Barrow.
“We had to bring in the mud, rake, cut the grass. We literally took out the trash, and the players had to clean the toilets themselves,” he said.
No more.
“This facility is second-to-none,” said first-year head coach Gregg Mucerino. “There are many NCAA Division I programs in this country that do not have a facility as nice as Segnette Field. Our kids our thrilled to call this their home.”
Though the contract ends after this season, Alario Center general manager Michael Janssen said he fully expects the ‘Pack to call Segnette home for years to come.
“Coach Mucerino’s enthusiasm is contagious,” he said, “and we are confident that Loyola’s style of play will attract new fans.
“This first year, we just want to make sure that everything involved is a win-win situation for both sides,” he said. “I would envision [the agreement] lasting well beyond this year.”
Mucerino agreed, saying that his team’s new home will “help raise the standard of our program.”
Echoed Hernandez, “If you have a good facility, it’s easier to attract good players.”
Loyola’s current squad will officially christen its new home park at 6 p.m. this evening against conference rival Bellhaven.
Simpson said the players are more excited than anyone to get the Segnette Field era underway.
“They’re ready,” he said. “And they’re not going to be scrubbing toilets.”
