FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Fresno Pacific’s baseball program hits the upgrade button thanks to a $3 million donation from Fresno’s Daniel R. Martin Family Foundation.
Head Coach Oscar Hirschkorn has led the program since its inception in 2006 and has built a culture of success with back-to-back Christian College National Championships in 2014 and 2015.
“This allows us to have world-class facilities for this level that are on par with any other in the country,” he said.
The donation will help start construction of a three-phase project at the Steinert Athletic Complex.
These include new concession stands, restrooms, stadium seating with shades and a new press box.
“I still can’t walk onto the field without imagining what it’s going to be like and how much fun we’re going to have at the stadium,” says pitcher Brady Crow.
For players like Crow, there’s a brand new 2,600 square foot clubhouse with more than 40 lockers to call home – the recruitment speaks for itself.
“You enter a stadium and a clubhouse and don’t really have to say anything,” said Hirschkorn.
For the Sunbirds, it’s an opportunity to take the program to new heights while enriching the talent of the Central Valley.
“Baseball is obviously a huge sport in the Central Valley and it’s just so cool to think that I’m going to play in this stadium and so many other kids who get the opportunity to come here can play here,” Crow said.
For Coach Hirschkorn, the donation reflects the hard work that has been built on the backs of the birds that have come before.
“I personally want to thank the players who came before when we didn’t have anything,” he said. “We literally started from scratch — we didn’t have a field, we didn’t have a cage, we didn’t have a baseball. We’re here now because players took a leap of faith and joined Fresno Pacific. It’s a program worth investing in.”
The Sunbirds will have to wait a little longer as construction is expected to begin after the 2023 season.
For now, the excitement will seep through them.
“A lot of good times and a lot of good baseball games this year,” Crow said.
Copyright © 2022 KFSN-TV. All rights reserved.
Comments are closed.