In its inaugural campaign, the Patriots' baseball team was forced to play its home games at Faulkner Park, a complex best suited for Little League competition.

Construction began on the school's new baseball and softball complex last summer, and with the baseball season just days away, the anticipation for UT Tyler's second baseball season couldn't be any higher.

"We were in a difficult situation last year," said UT Tyler head baseball coach James Vilade. "Being off campus, we lost a lot of our student body population. If you liked baseball, were living on campus and didn't have a car, you couldn't go watch it.

While the baseball team has conducted practices on the new diamond for about a month, the Patriots and their fans will be able to catch a first glimpse of the new park when UT Tyler hosts Central Baptist College (Ark.) in a season-opening doubleheader beginning at noon on Saturday.

The UT Tyler softball team will begin its inaugural campaign when the Patriots host Northwood University on Sunday, beginning at 1 p.m

The baseball and softball complex is accessible via the campus' west entrance off Patriot Avenue. It is located across from the campus police building and adjacent to the Robert R. Muntz Library

The softball stadium will be nearly 100 percent complete for Sunday's season opener.

Even though the baseball stadium will be ready for game use on Saturday, several modifications will continue throughout and after the season.

"Our stands are still under construction, the scoreboard's on its way up and we've got four of our eight light poles up," Vilade said. "We're going to be burning midnight oil (late this week) trying to get this thing ready for the fans."

Vilade expects the lights, dugouts and scoreboard will be ready for opening day, but added that the stands would be a little bit behind schedule.

Reserved seating, which will be chair-back seats directly behind home plate, have already sold out for the season.

However, UT Tyler is offering a lawn chair rental program for its fans. While general admission tickets ($2 apiece) do not include a chair, fans are allowed to bring in lawn chairs or rent them for $5 per day to be used on the berms surrounding the first- and third-base lines.

"It's going to have a kind of minor-league feel," Vilade said.

Vilade suspects the rush for reserved season tickets was caused by his team's success at home last season (16-6 record) and a genuine interest in baseball around the area.

"Anytime you can win at home, you're going to spark interest," he said. "I think with some of the strength of the local high schools and having minor league baseball in the past has proven (Tyler) to be a baseball town."

Compared to Faulkner Park, with dimensions tailored to 13-16 year-olds, the new complex represents a more traditional college baseball setting.

The distance from home plate to the right and left field fence is about 320 feet, 360 to the gaps and 380 to dead center field. The wall is about 10 feet tall, with an approximate three-foot rise in center.

"I think the park is going to play real fair," Vilade said. "I don't think there's a pitcher's or hitter's advantage. Last year, playing at Faulkner, we saw some eight-run and 11-run innings. I don't think you'll see too many of those this season."

With the city of Tyler experiencing two desertions on behalf of two minor league organizations in the past decade, Vilade understands his program's role with the city.

"We're the new kids on the block, and we're ready to step in and treat the fans to some good games."

Clint Buckley covers sports. He can be reached at 903.596.6293. e-mail: sports@...