In researching an article on Virginia based Club Baseball teams, I connected with the team from Christopher Newport University in nearby Newport News, VA. To be published in an article soon, I learned a ton about the CNU Club Baseball team, its origin, its struggles, and its current success story. I have been in communication with CNU’s Zachary Wu about the university’s club baseball team and he let me know the baseball field at Christopher Newport was open to the public, minus the press box and hitting cage facility. Zachary also let me know of some pending CNU club baseball games in October and November, so I’m actually hoping to catch a game or two this fall.

With the afternoon open yesterday, Rachel and I took the short drive (about 30 miles) from our home in Virginia Beach over to Newport News and the campus of Christopher Newport University. Thanks to some landscapers on a CNU golf cart, we got on the right road and path to the baseball complex. There was a parking lot next to the Vic Zodda Training facility, so that’s where we landed. It was a gorgeous, sunny day, no humidity, light breeze, puffy clouds, an absolute beautiful fall day in Hampton Roads.

The left field gate was open, so Rachel and I walked into the Captains Baseball Park area and began to check out the field. The Christopher Newport Captains Baseball team plays in the Coast to Coast Athletic Conference in NCAA’s Division III conference. Taking in the empty ballpark on this beautiful sunny day, I loved the intimate feel of park and the seating behind home plate, which stretched to each dugout (Home, Away). The press box, mentioned as off limits, was perched perfectly above the seating section behind home plate.

There were some numbers and players on the right field wall, just under the scoreboard, that I was interested in checking out. There are as follows:

• #15 Moreland
• #24 Turner
• #6 Parnell
• #20 Wiseman

I’ll do some follow up on those numbers with the University to learn more about their significance to the CNU program. The wall on the far side (left field) had championship years for the baseball program. I spun around from right field and grabbed a few more photos of the field and dugout area before heading out to left field.

The baseball field, the grounds, the complex, the stands, the seats were all in immaculate condition. The field was absolutely mint and in 100% playing condition. One interesting site that always catches my eye is the grass lined base paths. Most baseball fields, from youth sports to the MLB cathedrals, have dirt lined base paths from home to first and home to third. Like in this example at nearby Harbor Park, Norfolk:

Overall, it was an awesome Christopher Newport University baseball experience at Captains Park, Newport News. The field was in fantastic shape, it almost had the look of a field pre-championship game like conditions. The grounds, the seating sections, the walkways – all clean and easy to navigate through. The weather really helped me out photography wise with blue skies, fluffy clouds, and a gorgeous contrast. I can’t wait to tell you more about my email with Zachary about the Christopher Newport University Club Baseball team and their rise to success as a program. Stay tuned for that article and in the coming weeks, some game photos from a CNU club baseball game or two.