Chanticleers settling into new ballpark as season opener nears

In a week and a half, the Coastal Carolina baseball team will formally unveil its new Springs Brooks Stadium for its season opener, and on Tuesday the Chanticleers took the next step toward settling into their new on-campus home with their first full team practice in the ballpark.

“It’s been two years since we’ve played a game in here or even practiced really in a full stadium,” senior pitcher Austin Kerr said afterward. “… It’s just been a long process and we’re just glad it’s coming to an end. We’re ready to be in here.”

The Chants open the season Feb. 13 against Old Dominion and work continues on a new scoreboard in right field and finishing the bullpens in the outfield corners, but the artificial turf in foul territory and the new outfield wall are now complete and so after holding practices at either TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark or at the Ripken Experience fields in Myrtle Beach the last week and a half, the team was happy to be home.