New turf to shine at Dickinson State's baseball home opener

Sep. 21—DICKINSON — You may not have been aware, but Dickinson State University's fall baseball schedule began in early September, slightly ahead of the official autumn season, with an away game against Bismarck State College. Now, here at the Dakota Community Bank and Trust Ballpark's Astoria Field, something exciting awaits. As John Fogerty once sang, "We're born again, and there's new grass on the field."

Well, not "new", but an infield and turf renovation at Astoria Field that will certainly make the complex better for ballplayers, whether they play for the Badlands Big Sticks, the hometown Blue Hawks, the Dickinson High School Midgets or American Legion summer-leaguers. And while the DSU team opened their fall schedule on the road during dates at Bismarck State College on Sept. 7 with a 4-1 win and then suffered a pair of shutout losses on Sept. 14 during a doubleheader at Jamestown, 5-0, 5-0 and a subsequent 5-4 loss followed by an 11-4 win over Valley City State away on Sept. 16, they will return to the more-comfortable confines of DCBTB this weekend ... but Mother Nature will have to comply.

This-weekend's weather might not be conducive to baseball, what-with the early-autumn temperatures, but the rain will play an even bigger role. The weather forecast the next few days will feature "football weather" ranging from miserable rain and wind, combined with a desire for inside activities. So, if you watch the Weather Channel, that will be the best way to determine whether you can watch the Blue Hawks host their home-opener on the new turf at Astoria versus Mayville State on Saturday, Sept. 23 at noon. But, The Dickinson Press will help you stay posted.

In the event of inclement weather, the DSU fall-baseball schedule resumes on Sept. 29 at Mayville State on the return trip for a two-game set, and finishes at Jamestown University on Sept. 30.

With that said, don't forget the DSU Blue Hawks softball team also will continue their fall-ball schedule with a doubleheader this weekend at Bravera Field on Saturday, Sept. 23 against Dawson Community College starting at 1 p.m. (again, weather-provided) and subsequently finish off at Bravera Field versus Miles Community College on Sunday, Oct. 1 starting at 1 p.m.

For more information about DSU baseball, please visit

https://www.dsubluehawks.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/schedule

or read The Dickinson Press.