MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's College Director of Athletics Mike Matoso announced today an on-campus indoor player development center for baseball has been funded thanks to a campaign with contributions from many generous donors.
 
The Baseball Player Development Center, with an estimated cost of $575,000, will begin construction following the 2019 baseball season and will sit within the Louis Guisto Field footprint down the left field line.
 
"We cannot thank our donors enough for their many gifts that led to this player development center," Matoso said. "This facility is a key component for us in taking this program to the next level."
 
The center will feature four retractable tunnels, with the ability to hit, pitch and work on individual development, and will be approximately 4,900 square feet.
 
"Gaels baseball is extremely excited for this announcement," Head Coach Eric Valenzuela said. "The Baseball Player Development Center is a total game changer for us! It gives our student-athletes a beautiful home to work on their craft any time. Saint Mary's Baseball is in a great place right now and this facility takes it even further. Thank you to the donors that have helped make this project happen."
 
Saint Mary's is coming off its third consecutive 30-win season, the most in school history. The Gaels won the 2016 West Coast Conference regular season and tournament championship en-route to the program's first-ever appearance in an NCAA Regional. Ten Gaels have been taken in the Major League Baseball First-Year Players' Draft over the past three seasons, including five in the top-10 rounds.
 
To learn more about the Baseball Player Development Center, please contact Tom Carroll '04, MA'07, Senior Director of Athletic Development, at tcarroll@stmarys-ca.edu. To support Gaels Baseball, please visit www.stmarys-ca.edu/baseballgives.
 
Quotes from donors to the project:
 
"The Baseball Player Development Center is certainly a need and will help the program and our student-athletes immensely."- Marlene and Don DeLong '51
 
"It was an easy decision to invest in the building of The Baseball Player Development Center based on the success Coach Valenzuela has brought to Saint Mary's baseball"- Anthony Scolini '87, former Gaels baseball player
 
"As proud supporters of Baseball at Saint Mary's, we are truly excited the College can take this next step in the development of its Championship Baseball Program. It's great to be a part of it!"- Patricia and Ken Vincent '52
 
"I feel fortunate to be able to give back to a program that gave me an opportunity to play college baseball. I'm so proud of the program that Coach Valenzuela has built and knowing that I can help the current and future Gael players with their success is a great feeling."- Scott Wright '97, former Gaels baseball player