Upgrading the Brad Calvert Baseball Field

Upgrading

SS OURI

Athletics at Missouri Military Academy is an integral component of each cadet’s experience. Through athletics, we emphasize personal character and leadership both on and off the field. Being part of a team and daily physical activity are crucial to a young man’s positive development.

Baseball was one of MMA’s first three athletic programs, along with football and track, established at the Academy in 1892. MMA’s baseball program took a five-year hiatus in 2014, returning in 2019 as one of the Academy’s competitive athletic offerings.

Baseball at MMA

MMA’s strategic plan identifies a key need to develop cadet life programs that stimulate re-enrollment — that keep our cadets engaged and challenged to achieve more. To meet that need, we have established an objective to maintain strong interscholastic academic teams; competitive band, athletic and military teams; and strong intramural programs that attract and retain cadets, build esprit de corps, and encourage participation in recreational activities.

To accomplish this objective, MMA began much-needed renovation and upgrade of the Brad Calvert Baseball Field in 2020.

Our players are always excited to play on Brad Calvert Field. They want home field advantage. Our cadets deserve a great high school athletic career. Plus, teams always play better at home!”

— Colonels Baseball Coach Tom Roberts

Where We Started

Named for Cadet Bradley Calvert, who attended MMA during middle school in 1971-72, Brad Calvert Field was built in the mid-1990s by MMA maintenance staff. The field was named in his memory, following his death in an accident at the age of 27, after his mother made a generous donation to the Academy.

Prior to this renovation effort, the field had had no renovations, upgrades, and changes since its original construction. Before the upgrades, it failed to meet minimum requirements for competitive play in many areas and did not meet the standards of excellence for which MMA is known.

• The field depth to the foul lines was 300 feet and 350 feet to center field, the absolute minimum requirement for high school baseball. The renovation increased the right field fence distance at the foul line to 335 ft., deepened center field to 375-400 ft., and improved safety with a warning track.

• Field was not lighted. Cadets had to be dismissed from classes at 2:00 p.m. to prepare for home games which started at 4:30 p.m. to allow time for games to finish before dark.

• The scoreboard was nearly 40-years old and not fully functional.

• The field was not level, with the infield playing surface lower than the outfield by several inches.

MMA Colonels baseball team, spring 1942.

ABOVE: Cadet Bradley Calvert during the 1971-72 school year.

RIGHT: The Brad Calvert ’ 79 Baseball Field official sign.

• The field was not designed with adequate drainage, which caused flooding, and lacked irrigation necessary during dry conditions.

• The chain-link fence bowed near the bottom, allowing balls to frequently slide through gaps.

• The old dugouts were much smaller than our competitors’. Its chain-link construction offered no safety or privacy. The renovation has added a restroom to the home dugout.

• There was no equipment storage available on the current field. Without storage space for sound equipment, all equipment was hauled to the field, set up, and then broken down (often in darkness) for each game.

• The field lacked a press box. The scorers “booth” was a table set on the ground behind the home plate, which left our electrical equipment exposed to the elements.

• Concession stand facilities did not exist. Folding tables were set up in the gravel parking lot for concessions sales.

After a five-year hiatus, Colonels Baseball returned to MMA in 2019.

In spring 2019, players presented President Geraci with a bat to show gratitude.

Renovations in 2021 and 2022 included new dugouts and concrete pads for bleachers.

Field Upgrades to Generate MMA Pride — and Cadet Success

Many families seek a school that can provide top facilities, structure, and self-discipline to advance his skills during middle school and high school. If we bring in 25 full-tuition paying cadets over the next five to 10 years STRICTLY DUE TO BASEBALL, then the field renovation will have paid for itself.

Upgrading Calvert Baseball Field accomplishes two significant goals for MMA:

1. It provides our cadets the opportunity to play on a worldclass field and therefore helps prepare them to play at the collegiate level.

2. The renovated field will be a revenue generator. MMA will have the opportunity to market the field for baseball camps or as a college or minor league baseball training camp.

Refurbishing Brad Calvert Field will benefit our cadets by giving them a quality field to play on. This would enable a sense of pride for our players saying, “That’s MY field.”

The addition of lights would allow our players to play complete games. As it stands now, JV games are cut short by two to five innings (depending upon how long the varsity game lasts), limiting the athletic experience for our younger, less experienced players.

The improved playing surface and warning track reduces games being canceled due to excessive rain, as well as protects players from the risk that might arise from playing on a playing surface that is not level and riddled with holes.

The updated field elevates MMA’s stature with current and prospective families. We already have one of the best soccer fields in the Midwest, and this renovation, when complete, will give us one the best all-natural baseball fields as well.

This field, coupled with our indoor training facilities in the Almada Field House, will attract new baseball-minded cadets to our campus. This not only helps to increase the numbers in the corps but also the skill level of the baseball team.

How can the Academy use the field as a revenue generator?

The upgraded field Brad Calvert Field can be used to generate revenue in several ways:

• The new fencing allows for advertising on the inside of the outfield fence as well as down the outside of the fence from the dugout to left and right field foul lines.

• By extending the fence to the proposed depths, we can invite college or semi-professional teams to play games during the off-season.

• The field can be rented out to the city for use for summer softball and baseball games.

• It can be rented out for various tournaments and college showcases.

• The updated field now meets Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) and NCAA field dimension requirements, enabling MMA to host state, district and state tournaments, plus exhibition games.

Three Phases of Construction

Phase 1

• Larger field. Prior to renovation, the field depth to the foul lines was 300 feet and 350 feet to center field, the absolute minimum requirement for high school baseball. The field now maxes out at 405 feet at center field to provide a larger playing field.

• Level, dry field with improved irrigation. Prior to renovation, the field was not level, with the infield playing surface sitting lower than the outfield by several inches. Laser grading and sodding improved the field surface, and a new sprinkler irrigation system was installed.

• New chain-link fence. MMA removed the old chain-link fence, which bowed near the bottom and allowed balls to slide through the gaps, and replaced it with a new fence. The outfield fence now stands at a depth appropriate for college and semi-pro teams, expanding potential opportunities for the Academy to host tournaments and rent its facilities.

• New scoreboard. A Nevco Model 1612 PC Baseball Scoreboard, generously supported by the family of Bob Belknap, was installed with new electrical conduits placed for the scoreboard and lighting.

• New baseball field parking lot. The addition of a 40-vehicle parking lot better accommodates multiple sporting venues, MMA-sponsored events, and use of the Academy facilities for large event rentals.

Phase 2

• Construction of home and visitor dugouts

• Construction of restroom

• Construction of concession stand and press box

• Installation of a high-visibility backstop

• Construction of multi-purpose parking lot

• Addition of concrete pads for bleachers

Phase 3: Installation of MUSCO lights

PROJECT TOTAL = $850,000

Why are lights a critical addition to the field?

“During spring baseball season in Missouri, games start at 5:30. By the time we play 7 innings, the games end in darkness. If we start a game and enter extra innings due to a tie ballgame, it falls on us to have a field conducive for play. We must be able to finish the game in a safe manner or possibly lose the game due to not having enough light. Lights are essential to make sure we provide our players and visiting teams with a fully functional playing field.”

— Colonels Baseball Coach Tom Roberts

THANK YOU — YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Three years ago, a group of alumni, led by MMA Board of Trustees member Chris Gentry ’88, saw the need to improve Calvert Baseball Field and acted to make a difference for our cadets and the Academy. Gentry, along with Gregg Center ’91, Heinz Leigh ’99, Steven McDavid ’97 and Jarrod Magee ’97, established the baseball renovation project committee. Through this committee's support and alumni and friends' generosity. MMA has raised $300,000 to date for the baseball field renovation.

LEFT: Chris and Jeanne Gentry receive a signed baseball from the Colonels team as a thank you.

CELEBRATING PROGRESS

During Homecoming 2021, the MMA community gathered at Calvert Baseball Field to celebrate an alumni vs. cadets softball game and progress made on Calvert Baseball Field renovations.

Chris Belknap, son of former MMA Vice President for Institutional Advancement Bob Belknap (bottom right), threw out the first pitch in honor of the Belknap family’s financial support of the baseball field renovation in Bob’s memory.

You can make a difference in cadets’ lives through support of this project.

Please contact Vice President for Institutional Advancement Rob Silbaugh at 573-581-1776, ext. 230, or Robert.Silbaugh@missourimilitaryacademy.com for more information.