Creating an atmosphere
The atmosphere at Sadler Stadium this Saturday is one Earlham College coach Steve Sakosits hopes to see later in the season.
The facility, Earlham's on-campus baseball stadium, will have its official dedication at 12:30 p.m. that day, just prior to the Quakers' first pitch of a doubleheader with Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference foe Rose-Hulman at 1.
The stadium is named for Randal R. Sadler, an Earlham graduate who played for the Quakers' 1971 team, one of the program's best baseball squads. Sadler pledged $1 million toward the building of the facility.
"That is almost going to be like a home playoff game for Earlham," Sakosits said. "There is going to be a lot of people, a lot of excitement."
A lot on the line, too.
Earlham is the midst of what could be history in the making for the Quakers. They are tied with Anderson for first place — a first for the program since joining the HCAC — with Bluffton third and Rose-Hulman sitting alone in fourth.
The Engineers also won last year's conference tournament, earning a spot in the Division III Central Regional.
"Our kids are, every day, going up there and knowing we have to compete," Sakosits said. "If and when we get in the postseason, our kids will be prepared for it. What better way to prepare than what we will have out there on Saturday."
Earlham played its first game at Sadler Stadium in 2014, and the facility has become a major part of the program in a short amount of time.
The turfed stadium is 310 feet down the left-field line, leading right to the Maroon Monster, a 30-foot high fence extending 50 feet from the line.
"It doesn't get any better than that," senior pitcher Matt Brankle said of Sadler Stadium. "You know your defense is going to make plays behind you because they're not going to get the bad hops. It's really nice."
Added Sakosits: "If I were to take the name off the building and say to you, 'What level facility is this school at,' you'd probably say Division I. You'd look at the field, at the press box. That's what we want."
Sadler graduated from Earlham in 1973. He is he president and chief operating officer of PROWARE, an Ohio-based corporation focused on providing information technology to medium and large courts, according to a release from Earlham. Sadler also owns a par-three golf course, is a financial adviser and stockbroker and co-developed a water purification system.
"The Sadler Stadium dedication is the culmination of magnificent vision, community effort and hard work," Earlham athletic director Mike Bergum said in the release. "The stadium is a source of pride for everyone involved. This is a day of celebration and a way to show our thanks to Randy and Melissa Sadler and everyone who has made this vision possible."
Earlham has six home dates remaining at Sadler Stadium, including tonight's non-conference contest with Spalding.
The Quakers end the regular season with a three-game series May 1-2 vs. Hanover. The top four teams then advance to the conference tournament.
Earlham has not played in the tournament since becoming a member of the HCAC in 2011. The Quakers are 21-6 overall, 11-5 in the HCAC after Tuesday's 3-2 road victory against Mount St. Joseph.
"Everything with the facility and Randy and the team, and the players of the past who are now a part of it, we want our alumni to be a special part of what the kids are going through now," said Sakosits, who recently passed Tom Parkevich as Earlham's career coaching leader in wins. "I'm excited for it."
Josh Chapin: (765) 973-4463 jchapin@pal-item.com or twitter.com/JoshChapinPI
At a Glance
• What: Dedication of Randal R. Sadler Stadium
• When/where: 12:30 p.m. on campus of Earlham College
• Doubleheader: Earlham plays two baseball games against Rose-Hulman after the ceremony, starting at 1 p.m.
• Records: Earlham is 21-6 overall and 11-5 in HCAC, tied for first; Rose-Hulman is 14-11, 9-6 and fourth in the conference