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June 1, 2009
Hamler Patrick Henry returns to the state tournament this weekend in
an attempt to defend its 2008 Div. IV crown.
Baseball Eager to Try Out New Digs
The first pitch of
the 2009 OHSAA state baseball tournament will be thrown Thursday
morning in brand new Huntington Park located in the Arena District
of downtown Columbus. Huntington Park, completed earlier this
spring, seats 10,000 fans and is the home of the Columbus Clippers,
the AAA affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.
Jerry Snodgrass,
OHSAA assistant commissioner who oversees baseball, sat down to
answer a few questions about the new stadium and the upcoming
tournament.
Q. This will
be the first year the state tournament will be held at the new
Huntington Park in downtown Columbus. You have to be excited about
that.
A. We are
honored to be able to host our state tournament in one of the best
minor league facilities in the country. It will be a tremendous
experience for the student-athletes who get to play on one of the
biggest stages in Ohio. The amenities the new park offers such as
the indoor batting cages, plenty of media space, and great views for
fans are second to none.
Q. Is there
anything fans should be aware of before heading to the tournament
and the new park this weekend?
A. Fans
should look forward to having a great experience in downtown
Columbus this weekend, especially if they have never been there
before. The Arena District has so much to offer and we hope fans are
able to take advantage of that. There is also plenty of parking
surrounding the stadium so that should not be an issue, and the
typical cost is about $3.
Q. You have
over 30 years of experience in education as a teacher, coach and
administrator. What does it mean for a school and a community to
make the ‘final four’ and be able to play for a state title?
A. For most
of these kids, it has been their goal to play for a state
championship since they were playing on t-ball and little league
fields. Only 16 teams in the whole state of Ohio reach that goal
every year. To be able to play for a state title, especially at a
place like Huntington Park, is just a dream come true. The staffs
at the OHSAA and the Huntington Park are committed to doing
everything we can to make this weekend full of memories the players,
parents and fans can cherish for a lifetime.
Click here for state
tournament bracket.
### ohsaa.org ###
Contact Brian Day,
contact: bday@ohsaa.org |
