By Lindsey Boyd (@lindsboyd3 ):
San Jose State softball players sport diamond-like championship rings on their middle fingers for a reason. It’s a fitting choice considering the real diamond they want — the kind that comes engraved in white chalk and plated with four bases — they can’t have. Well, not this season at least.
A source told The Spear there is “no chance” the softball team will have a home field of its own on South Campus during the 2018 season.
After making SJSU history by advancing to the second round of the 2017 NCAA Division I Softball Championship without a field on campus last season, the team never thought it would have to utter the words, “No field, no problem” again.
Now, a curveball has been thrown. The motto is expected to live on well into the 2018 season.
“Obviously we can’t play on it now,” said a softball player, referring to the dirt lot on East Humboldt and 10th streets that has yet to show green.
A sea of yellow from bulldozers and construction vests currently smears across the site. A ping from a single hammer rings out while stadium lights wrapped in plastic lay scattered on the dirt. Not one blade of turf is visible.
The graveyard is waiting to be brought to life by Blach Construction Company.
The reigning Mountain West champions’ original field was torn up and replaced with the Spartan Golf Complex in May of 2016. The team had no other option but to play off campus last season.
When needed, it hosted games at the University of the Pacific, 80 miles northeast, but considered Mission College in Santa Clara its main home field.
With a home diamond still in the rough, the university continues to be naive with an official launch date.
“We are scheduled for on or about March 1 to open up the softball field,” said Charlie Faas, SJSU Chief Financial Officer on Jan. 31. “Those girls, they won the Mountain West and they were in the NCAA Tournament, and they were playing at Mission.”
It is now March 7 and there is no field and a problem.
A source told The Spear that plans to install lights for the field are delaying construction. The source added that head coach Peter Turner would be “lucky” to play a game in San Jose this year.
“I don’t mind taking a hit for one year,” Turner said last May. “But outside of that, I will begin to lose my recruits, my support and that winning spirit.”
Looks like Turner will have to take a hit for two years.
The university athletic department is well aware of softball’s frustration from playing without a field, but playing off campus is a song sung by several SJSU sports teams.
“You have the short term pain for the long time gain,” said Athletic Director Marie Tuite on Jan. 31.
The AD was referring to teams such as water polo, swimming and diving and track and field who all lack facilities on campus.
The softball team continues to channel that pain into its game, and put its rings where their mouths are to prove to SJSU that softball is worthy of a facility.
The good news for softball is construction is underway. The bad news is it’s far from completion.
“If you were to go out and look, there’s construction still going,” said Lawrence Fan, head of SJSU media relations. “I personally do not have a date (of completion).”
He also does not know where the team currently practices or if the team will schedule home games at Mission College again.
But according to Nick Adler, Mission College’s Sports Information and Marketing Director, San Jose State softball’s rental agreement is already signed and set to last until May 23, the entire softball season.
“As long as space is available, we are happy to provide the facility,” Adler said.
Looming in the near future is SJSU’s first scheduled home game against Fairleigh Dickinson College on March 14 where location site is “TBA” according to SJSU Athletics.
“We will determine if it will be at Mission College as we get closer,” Fan said.
Considering the only work completed at the future stadium is the scoreboard, it’s safe to say softball’s first home game will not be played on South Campus.
Yet again, words have been pitched out and SJSU has dropped the ball.