Harrison Central high school baseball schedule up in the air amidst home field issues

The high school baseball season is just under a month away for most schools here on the coast, but for one local high school they won’t know until the proverbial 9th inning if they will be playing home games this season.

“I have to do everything in my power to make it right for these kids and these families because they have invested so much,” said Harrison Central baseball head coach Neil Frederic.

Coach Frederic and his team spent their Monday evening at the Harrison County School District building fighting for something they have worked so hard to get ready for – the ability to have home games this season.

You may ask yourself, why are they fighting for something that every team has?

That is because recently there were upgrades scheduled for the 2023-2024 season but because of multiple project setbacks out of the teams control their home games are now in question.

Frederic says having the community support at the meeting was incredible.

“That community has been built far before I got here,” he said. “It isn’t just me – I’m just trying to carry on a legacy of all the great coaches and great people that have been at our school. So how do I feel about tonight? I feel passionate that people are behind us and want what is best for our kids and our school.”

Because of where the conditions stand with the field all February home games have been postponed.

While at the meeting the board voted and announced that they were hiring a new architect to start work on the field beginning Tuesday morning. While coach, his players, and family members in attendance were told it should take no longer than three week – he thinks otherwise.

“Me personally where we stand right now, I don’t right now – I don’t think we can still get on that baseball field,” he said. “That is my 100% opinion. So now, with what they have told me today and what is going to happen now I’m hoping that we can come through so we can do what we need to do so we can play on our own baseball field and not be road dogs the whole entire year.”

There is no questioning the “why” behind the urge to get the field fixed.

It actually has nothing to do with the field itself and everything to do with the players, especially the seniors, who worked so hard to prepare for the season.

“I have to see it with my own eyes,” said Frederic. “Actions are much stronger than words in my opinion. I can’t control yesterday – neither can any of these people in this building – we can control today right now but what is going to happen tomorrow? What are we going to do tomorrow to make a smile on these kids faces?”