By Jim Morrison
Special to The Gazette
GASTONIA — Ever since its inception over 20 years ago, the Gaston Day School baseball program has been envisioning a field and a place it could call home.
Friday night in Gastonia, the winless Spartans (0-5) finally saw their “Field of Dreams” become a reality as they christened the opening of the Frances H. Henry Field by falling, 12-9, to previously winless Piedmont Charter (1-2) in front of a large gathering of alumni, parents, students and friends of Gaston Day School baseball, who came and put together a historic evening.
“We hoped that this was going to be as great as it's turned out,” said Gaston Day head of school Dr. Richard Rankin, who presided over the formal dedication ceremony prior to the game. “This was Bill and Frances Henry’s vision and dream. They made it possible entirely. This has been a long-term vision of the school. We purchased this property to develop it into fields and this is the first time we’ve had somebody who has allowed us to make it happen. It’s a beautiful place.”
The complex, which was funded entirely by a gift from the William S. Henry family, includes state-of-the-art dugouts, batting cages, a scoreboard, concession stand and restrooms. The field is named for Frances Henry, who is coaching middle school baseball at Gaston Day.
William S. Henry, who is a former Gaston Day pitcher and 1977 graduate, is married to Frances Henry and the couple resides in Gastonia. Brianne Hough McMullen, who is William’s step-daughter, graduated from Gaston Day School in 2008, and sons William, who is a junior first baseman/pitcher on the Spartan varsity, and Charles (eighth grade) are current Gaston Day students.
“We’ve been needing this (home field) for a very long time,” said Frances Henry, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch to son William prior to the game. “We hope that it will bring more children and interest in the baseball program in general.”
“Baseball is in our blood,” she added. “We love it and we just hope baseball continues to grow here and blossom at Gaston Day School.”
Despite the Spartans falling to 0-5 with Friday’s loss, the mood that resonated throughout the Gaston Day community was that of excitement and pride in the new facility.
“This (complex) is huge for the program and the school,” said Gaston Day athletic director Casey Field. “Look at how many people are out because we now have an outdoor evening event to bring people together. It’s awesome because it builds community and the program is now playing in arguably the nicest facility in the region. The kids are just going to improve now and the program is going to grow off of that.”
First-year head coach Chris Carrara already has seen interest in the Spartan baseball program since the completion of the new facility.
“It helps the program emotionally and mentally,” Carrara said. “Of course it helps physically, too. We’re able to practice a lot more because we don’t have to drive all over the place to get a practice in.
"At the end of the day, it’s a community field. When you have that home field, you finally feel like you have a program and something to fight for.”
For William Henry, whose first inning single was the first-ever hit on the new field, the evening was the culmination of a lot of dreams.
“To have a field at our school to play at is remarkable,” said William Henry. “I’ve been around this program for 13 years, and I’m so glad we finally have a field of our own.”
Special to The Gazette
GASTONIA — Ever since its inception over 20 years ago, the Gaston Day School baseball program has been envisioning a field and a place it could call home.
Friday night in Gastonia, the winless Spartans (0-5) finally saw their “Field of Dreams” become a reality as they christened the opening of the Frances H. Henry Field by falling, 12-9, to previously winless Piedmont Charter (1-2) in front of a large gathering of alumni, parents, students and friends of Gaston Day School baseball, who came and put together a historic evening.
“We hoped that this was going to be as great as it's turned out,” said Gaston Day head of school Dr. Richard Rankin, who presided over the formal dedication ceremony prior to the game. “This was Bill and Frances Henry’s vision and dream. They made it possible entirely. This has been a long-term vision of the school. We purchased this property to develop it into fields and this is the first time we’ve had somebody who has allowed us to make it happen. It’s a beautiful place.”
The complex, which was funded entirely by a gift from the William S. Henry family, includes state-of-the-art dugouts, batting cages, a scoreboard, concession stand and restrooms. The field is named for Frances Henry, who is coaching middle school baseball at Gaston Day.
William S. Henry, who is a former Gaston Day pitcher and 1977 graduate, is married to Frances Henry and the couple resides in Gastonia. Brianne Hough McMullen, who is William’s step-daughter, graduated from Gaston Day School in 2008, and sons William, who is a junior first baseman/pitcher on the Spartan varsity, and Charles (eighth grade) are current Gaston Day students.
“We’ve been needing this (home field) for a very long time,” said Frances Henry, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch to son William prior to the game. “We hope that it will bring more children and interest in the baseball program in general.”
“Baseball is in our blood,” she added. “We love it and we just hope baseball continues to grow here and blossom at Gaston Day School.”
Despite the Spartans falling to 0-5 with Friday’s loss, the mood that resonated throughout the Gaston Day community was that of excitement and pride in the new facility.
“This (complex) is huge for the program and the school,” said Gaston Day athletic director Casey Field. “Look at how many people are out because we now have an outdoor evening event to bring people together. It’s awesome because it builds community and the program is now playing in arguably the nicest facility in the region. The kids are just going to improve now and the program is going to grow off of that.”
First-year head coach Chris Carrara already has seen interest in the Spartan baseball program since the completion of the new facility.
“It helps the program emotionally and mentally,” Carrara said. “Of course it helps physically, too. We’re able to practice a lot more because we don’t have to drive all over the place to get a practice in.
"At the end of the day, it’s a community field. When you have that home field, you finally feel like you have a program and something to fight for.”
For William Henry, whose first inning single was the first-ever hit on the new field, the evening was the culmination of a lot of dreams.
“To have a field at our school to play at is remarkable,” said William Henry. “I’ve been around this program for 13 years, and I’m so glad we finally have a field of our own.”
