ROY HELSER FIELD

Roy Helser Field, together with Jim Wright Stadium, has developed from a belowaverage facility to a jewel among Northwest small colleges.

The facility has served as host of the 2009, 2010 and 2012 NCAA Division III regional playoffs and is again one of eight designated regional host sites in 2014.

One important addition was construction of a partially enclosed and fully covered batting practice structure, called “Carney’s Cages” in honor of longtime baseball coach Scott Carnahan. This spring, a project is underway to expand the batting cage space to include an enclosed weight room.

A major change took place in 2008 when the grass infield was replaced with a FieldTurf artificial playing surface. Drainage was improved and construction of covered, enclosed batting cages on the venue site was undertaken. Prior to the 2013 season, the dirt pitching mound was also replaced with artificial turf to match the infield surface.

In 2000, outdoor lighting was added to the field. Musco lighting systems were installed in the fall of 2000 to give more flexibility in scheduling while enhancing the facilities and allowing for NCAA post-season competition. Outdoor lighting provides additional opportunities for McMinnville-area youth teams during the summer.

Wright Stadium was added to Helser Field in 1990, replacing portable aluminum bleachers and a chainlink backstop.

On May 25, 1991, Linfield dedicated its newly completed baseball stadium at Roy Helser Field in honor of Jim Wright, his wife, Sondra, and parents Edith (Hall) Wright of McMinnville and the late Neale Wright, class of 1929. Jim Wright, a retired Portland businessman, provided a large portion of the funding for the new stadium.

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NWC co-champions Pacific and Linfield are slotted 1-2 in the recently released preseason coaches poll

Following their 2022 NWC Championship Tournament win, the Pacific Boxers are predicted to return to the top of the baseball standings for the 2023 season, following a recent vote of Northwest Conference head coaches. Linfield and Pacific shared the regular-season title, each with 14-10 records.

The Boxers earned 63 points in the poll with seven first-place votes. Linfield ranks second with 52 points and one first-place vote. Pacific Lutheran takes the third spot with 49 points followed closely by fourth place George Fox, which received one first-place vote. Willamette received 37 points to rank fifth and Lewis & Clark and Whitman tied for sixth with 24 points. The poll was rounded out by Puget Sound in eighth with 20 points and Whitworth in ninth with 10 points.

Most regular-season play begins this weekend and conference play is set to start February 18. The NWC championships are scheduled for April 21-23 at the No. 1 seed.