Morehead City Marlins coming to Big Rock Stadium

MOREHEAD CITY – There were hot dogs, spectators and a baseball field ready for action Thursday in Morehead City as the Coastal Plain League announced plans to bring the players.

The Morehead City Marlins will be the 15th franchise in the Coastal Plain League and will call the town’s new Big Rock Stadium home beginning with the 2010 season.

“This is our new home and we’re thrilled to be a part of such a vibrant community,” said Team President Sabrina Bengel.

The announcement was well-received by the crowd of community leaders and residents who gathered at the baseball complex at Rotary Park for a news conference and unveiling of the Marlins logo.

“I think it’s going to be great for the Crystal Coast. I can’t wait for the season to start,” said Rita LeClair, Crystal Coast Tourism Authority administrative assistant.

Resident Hugh Aderholt lives nearby and suspects he’ll be spending his share of summer evenings taking in a few Marlins games.

“I love baseball. It’s something for the kids and the big kids, too,” he said. “I think it’s great.”

Providing things for families to do together has been one of the goals of the town as it has developed the baseball facility and Randy Martin, Morehead City manager said the home games of the Morehead City Marlins will do just that.

“This fits in with our plans to have family-oriented recreation and opportunities in the community expanded,” Martin said.

Bengel said the ballpark experience is something everyone can enjoy.

“It’s what people are looking for. Baseball is the national pastime and people love being close to the field, hearing the crack of the bat and just enjoying an evening together,” she said.

Mayor Jerry Jones said the town’s “field of dreams” began a decade or so ago as the town evaluated recreation priorities and the need for a full-size baseball field for older youth and adults was identified.

In 2003, resident V.J. “Puck” O’Neal and his late wife, Pearl, set the baseball park project in motion with a challenge.

“Puck O’Neal challenged Morehead City that if we built a field to the standard of American Legion baseball, he’d contribute to that project. And that was the beginning,” Jones said.

Since then, the town has seen support for the baseball facility, including a $175,000 contribution from the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in 2007 for a stadium at the new baseball park.

The baseball field is finished and work is underway to complete the stadium and amenities in time for spring play.

Coastal Plain League President and Commissioner Pete Bock said that when the public arrives to see the Marlins play, they will see the full potential of the baseball park.

“I think when it’s finished everybody will be excited by how it looks, how it feels, how it plays and everything about it,” he said.

Morehead City is in the process of finalizing a contract with the parent company of the team for use of the facility and if all goes as planned, the team’s first home game is scheduled for May 28, 2010.

The Coastal Plain League is a summer collegiate baseball league with 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The league gives players a chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats.

During the summer seasons, the players stay with local host families and are involved with the community through service projects and programs established by the team to serve the area.

American Legion and other local baseball teams will be using the baseball park and the town foresees hosting tournaments and other events at the facility, providing entertainment for residents and visitors to town.

Contact Jannette Pippin at jpippin@freedomenc.com or 910-382-2557.