New press box at Mose Moorehead Field

 Mose Moorehead Field, which has served as home to the Fighting Muskie baseball team over the years, is getting a face-lift in the addition of a new press box for the upcoming season.

  "I think it's tremendous," said Muskingum University Athletic Director Larry Shank. "Any time you can improve a facility that our student athletes represent the university in; I think it's going to be a very positive thing for our institution."

  After fundraising and generous donations, the press box will be ready for use by the time the Fighting Muskies take the field to open their home schedule on March 17 against PSU-Behrend at 1 p.m., pending winter weather cooperation.

  Some of the biggest support for the press box came from both alumni and general supporters of the program.

  "We really went to our alums and just supporters of the program," explained Head Coach Gregg Thompson. "We put a call team together of former players of mine."

  After the past season of rain postponements and cold weather, the box keeps scoreboard operators and members of the media dry during the games.

  "In the past seasons of sitting out there, I know the weather conditions can get brutal, especially with how the wind swirls around," said former Muskie broadcaster and Muskingum alum Thomas Pasch. "It'll not only make the field look better, but could ultimately make the broadcasts sound better by not having to scramble around when the weather hits."

  The press box will feature a concession stand, two restrooms, media rooms and a recruiting room. Thompson and Shank are confident that the box could boost recruiting for the Fighting Muskies.

  "I think it's going to allow us to be on a level playing field, recruiting-wise," Thompson said. "You talk about Marietta and that's better than a lot of minor league stadiums. [Kids] want to see new stuff, they want to see the administration and the baseball program is moving forward."

  The appearance means a lot more than good looks and progress, though.

  "It helps market because it shows that we care," said Shank. "When you go up there and you see the press box with a concession stand, with restrooms, it just takes us to another level."

  In addition to recruiting, the concession stand serves the fans of the program and was also in need of an upgrade.

  "The concession stand was old and had no running water," explained Thompson. "We do a good job and the concession stand profits go to all our recruiting efforts."

  Thompson's main hope is that the incoming press box will add excitement about the program and give the players, current and former, a new sense of pride of being a Fighting Muskie baseball player.

  "What I want is some excitement when I take recruits up and our players go up," said Thompson. "[I also want] the current players to take some pride in it. Take some pride in the field [and the fact that] we're putting some money into it."

  "I'm excited to see it," said Pasch. "It'll definitely add a whole new aspect of beauty up there. It makes me want to drive the three hours to just come down and check it out and catch a game."

  Catch the Fighting Muskies in action all season long beginning March 17.