It doesn't seem like it unless you're right in the middle of it, but there is some progress being made in the ongoing effort to create a baseball venue for Cal State Bakersfield's new Division I baseball team that will begin play in February, 2009, and possibly the Blaze. The progress is about as slow and erratic as a knuckle ball fluttering up to the plate, but there is progress.

Another step is being taken today (Tuesday 4/22) and it could be monumental if the local construction community turns out as anticipated for a gathering at the invitation of the  all-volunteer Baseball Stadium Committee and Roadrunner Club. It is the hope of the Baseball Stadium Committee that a practice facility  — that can also serve as home field for the Runners next season — gets built on campus with donated materials and labor. Given the economics conditions of the day, that might be a pie in the sky lunge. If it can, it adds ammunition to the concept of a permanent stadium getting built on campus - joint-use with the Blaze or otherwise - for far less money than conventional wisdom would dictate, and that other new academic facilities can get built for less as well.

That's a lot to ask of contractors, who have crews they are responsible for and mouths to feed. It'll be interesting to hear the BSC's pitch to them. More coming on this.

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