From designing the decals on the wall to hitting a grand slam over them, senior infielder Sam Seidel has completed goals on and off the field so far this season after a storybook ending to BGSU’s first game at newly renovated Stellar Field.
Following months of renovation, Stellar Field was played on for the first time with the newly added turf field and stadium lights Friday night, as the Falcons took a 7-0 win against the Ohio Bobcats.
In a game dominated by the Falcons, one performance stood out, as Seidel became the first player to hit a home run on the renovated field—a grand slam that put the Falcons up 5-0.
While being the first player to achieve such a feat seems impressive enough, Seidel’s case becomes remarkable when learning the graphic design major was the one who designed the decals added to the new outfield wall.
“I have to give all the glory to God there. Praise God that I got a pitch over the middle, and I drove it and it went,” Seidel said.
The senior who has spent his entire collegiate career with the Falcons and has continued the legacy of his brother, Isaiah Seidel, has been around since the beginning of renovation talks. The idea of playing a game at a Stellar Field that was turfed and included stadium lights is something that Seidel had only dreamt of.
“It’s a surreal experience. Just looking out at the field and knowing it’s come a long way and we’re just so grateful to have it and to be able to have opportunities and experiences like this,” Seidel said.
The poetic moment is something that head coach Kyle Hallock couldn’t explain any other way than the game giving back to those who believe in it, Seidel being one of those people.
“The baseball gods were smiling on us today, and especially Sam Seidel,” Hallock said, “We spent a lot of hours on the bus going over what that outfield wall would look like and for him to put the first one over it and into the trees, I think it is fitting.”
Playing away from Stellar Field for the first 17 games of the season is not a task for the weak. The Orange and Brown acknowledged that and were ready to get back to their newly turfed home field.
“We’ve been on the road and it’s been a tough stretch, so it feels good to be back home. To be able to play like this on the first night, under the lights, it’s a special feeling,” Seidel said.
The Falcons head into a stretch that includes 12 of 16 games at Stellar Field, with two more games against the Bobcats on Saturday and Sunday to finish out their series. The first pitch for both matchups is scheduled for 1 p.m.
