U of Maine, and U of Rhode Island??

4thGen is visiting URI this weekend. I know the area and somewhat the schools' academic reputation. Maine has the better baseball history but URI plays a pretty good schedule. They seem to be focused on pitching for 2009.

You may want to PM CoachMerc as his son is a player at UM.

Thanks!!

Both strong baseball programs. Schools themselves not as highly rated academically as UConn, UMass or UVermont, at least if you go by USNews ratings.

Maine is in the process of puuting in a new field turf facility. Add that to the existing clubhouse, locker rooms and indoor facility and the other schools that Mr Caulfield mentions cannot even be mentioned in the same sentence. He is 100% correct when it comes to the academics and the ratings. Maine's facilities, even before the new field far out score the others. It will be an absolutely great facility (minus the snow)...120+ inches last winter...

Maine is also in an up and coming conference the America East

quote:

It will be an absolutely great facility (minus the snow)...120+ inches last winter...

When friends of mine played there, bullpen pitchers sat in running cars. It added an entirely new dimension to warming up.

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:

quote:

It will be an absolutely great facility (minus the snow)...120+ inches last winter...

When friends of mine played there, bullpen pitchers sat in running cars. It added an entirely new dimention to warming up.

Haha, gotta love snow baseball!

I also heard that about warming up in a car. A couple guys I know when there and graduated a couple years ago.

Their clubhouse, lockroom is great, Sauna and wirlpools to help get the frost out. The new field has a heat pump under it so they should be able to keep the snow totals down to where the Zamboni can come over from the ice arena to clear the smooth the playing surface.

It really is a great facility and the field looks great.

quote:

the Zamboni can come over from the ice arena to clear the smooth the playing surface.

Right behind the snow plow. I can't think of a place more suited for turf with a heat pump beneath. It's a great move.

Sounds like they got a good setup going on up there!!

Here is the link if you want to see the progress....Maine Turf Installation

Field turf is awesome. Some gulf area programs are going that way. Tulane just opened a rebuilt park with filed turf and it is nice. Very weather friendly as it drains quickly and doesn't freeze, I assume.

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
Maine is also in an up and coming conference the America East

Why do you think America East is an up and coming conference?

America East Conf RPI (warrennolan.com)

2005 18 w/ 8 teams
2006 27 w/7 teams (Northeastern dropped)
2007 24
2008 25

Look at where they are all recruiting?

Look at the oney going into the baseball programs?

You wanna play right out of the box it is a great conference

And they are all seen on the recruiting scene

TR got me to look. Vermont is the best academic school playing basbeall. So I took a look.

*(UVM is short for Universitas Viridis Montis, Latin for University of the Green Mountains)

And I thought UVM stood for University of Ver-Mont

We just got back from visiting a number of NE schools. The orginal post asked about URI so I'll tell you that we found that they are making huge improvements in their physical plant. They are almost finished putting in their new turf field. They have cleared ground for a hitting barn next and the school is building a new athletic complex with offices and workout facility for varsity athletes. It seems like the administration has made a real committment to expanding the school and improving their athletics is one big way to get it moving.

Coach Foster was direct about his goals to make it to a Super Regional this year and have the best baseball team in NE. 4thGen and I came away very impressed.