The final bell of school has just rung, senior varsity baseball player Jack Stecker goes to his locker to grab his equipment. Making sure he has everything as he heads outside. Instead of running to get on a bus for practice, the baseball team can now walk right outside to the new baseball field. The journey to Peterson park is no more for these players.

Breaking ground in the beginning of the school year, MCHS began work on the new baseball field. The field is to be used for the baseball program at the school.

“We built a new field at the Upper Campus so that we could finally host our varsity and JV baseball levels on a home site,” said MCHS AD Chris Madson. “In the past they were at McCracken Field and out at Petersen Park.”

The field being turf is also a huge benefit. Turf allows players to begin practice outside earlier in the year because turf does not need to be maintained like a regular baseball field.

“Going with turf allows us to provide the highest quality playing surface for our teams,” said Madson. “Also holds a lot of great benefits regarding weather related issues. We no longer need to incur costs associated with maintaining the baseball field.”

While construction has been going on for some time, the field should be finished in time for the baseball season.

“I mean we’re still waiting for dugouts,” said varsity coach Brian Rockweiler, “but those are supposed to be coming any day.” 

While coaches and admin are excited for the new field, so are the players.

“I am super excited for the new field,” said Stecker. “It’s really nice being able to walk out of school and go right to the field.”

Being on the school’s property has several benefits for the school. Players no longer need to travel for practices or games.

“I think it’s gonna be a huge benefit for us,  just the fact that we can walk right outside of school and practice and play games,” said Rockweiler.

The new fields will also benefit the McHenry Community, MCHS alumni Tim Glosson feel the new field will be beneficial for the students and a turf field when he plays would have benefited him and his teammates.

“Having the field so close to the school would’ve been so encouraging for someone like me,” said Glosson. “Back when I was in school, to spend more time on it. Seeing that field right outside my classroom, I’d have wanted to get right out there after the school day was over to start throwing.”

Everyone in McHenry is excited for the new field and to see what it brings.