By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Rockford University on Tuesday celebrated the start of construction of new turf baseball and softball fields that the Regents will play on this coming season.
The $3.58 million project will create two new fields along with new fencing, backstops with padding, new dugouts and bullpens. The work is paid for through a state grant awarded to the university in September.
Construction will begin in earnest on Monday. Weather pending, the fields should be complete in time for the first games the second week of March.
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Jason Mulligan, director of athletics for Rockford University, said the existing fields had deteriorated to poor condition. Both the softball and baseball teams have been holding games off-site for years. Softball players have used fields at Sportscore while the baseball team rented Rivets Stadium in Loves Park until last year when that wasn’t available and it had to travel to Pohlman Field in Beloit.
“This is very important now that we can finally have the team return and play in front of their fellow students, faculty and staff,” Mulligan said. “There used to be traditions where they would always come out and grill and barbecue and all these type of things. We’ve lacked that for awhile, so being able to have a home place where we can enjoy and have the fans enjoy is exciting for our student athletes.”
He said the new fields will allow student-athletes to train and compete at a higher level, and it will provide a “wow” factor for prospective students touring campus.
“Rockford University is on a serious growth trajectory,” said Patricia Lynott, president of Rockford University. “These athletic fields are just a part of that growth.”
Jake Bilotta, a senior shortstop, said he’ll appreciate the true hops the ball takes on turf and the opportunity to play in front of home field fans.
“I feel like I play better when there’s more people. You like to play in front of a crowd and show what you can do,” he said. “We’ll also be able to go right from our games and maybe go to the softball games. We won’t have to drive somewhere else.”
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Rylee Klema, a pitcher on the softball team and criminal justice major, is looking forward to playing her final season with the Regents on a true home field.
“The feeling of finally having a home field that we can call our own, that we’re not renting from someone. … It’s going to be fantastic,” she said. “I know for a fact that I’m going to remember that moment for the rest of my life.”
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas