The school’s most recent purchase, Brunette Park, has provided both an advancement and change for Irish athletics, with further change and consolidation of athletic facilities possibly on the horizon.

Opening 14 months ago, the baseball team this season is now playing at Brunette. This spring season, the softball program has called Brunette Park its new home, too.

Brunette currently features two game-ready baseball fields and one softball field, along with practice fields and four batting cages. Before the switch, the baseball team played at Hare Field in Lawrence Township and softball played on campus on the artificial turf field.

Mrs. Linda Bamrick, PE teacher and varsity assistant softball coach, said, “Overall, it’s allowed us to be more efficient. We used to only have one field for two teams. We can now practice doing completely different drills simultaneously.”

Baseball Head Coach Mr. Ed Freije ’99 agreed that the space is functional and has provided an excellent venue for the Irish baseball program.

Bamrick and Freije added that it’s a bridge between the baseball and softball programs in their own space. Bamrick said, “When both sides have games, it’s easy for fans to bounce back and forth between games. The girls can even hop over to support the boys after practice and vice versa.”

Mia Dittoe, junior and College of Charleston softball commit, and senior Bo Sanders thanked the Brunette family for all they have done for their programs. Sanders said he “loves the area for its great atmosphere,” while Dittoe mentioned the advantage of the team having its own locker room.

Athletics Director Mr. Rick Streiff said more is to come in the 35-acre space. He said, “As of (May 7), there is no building or construction plans being actively pursued. But we do have some hopes in the next decade. We hope for a stadium, we hope for a football field. Lacrosse, soccer, see what all we can get out there. To have all of this in one area would be incredible.”

Any further additions to Brunette will come after the STEM building, to be known as the Innovation Center, is complete.