The Southwest Voice

larger view

With seven months before their first game, Cal State Bakersfield’s baseball program has already hit a home run, thanks to Tom and Barbara Hardt. At a news conference on Aug. 5, the longtime Bakersfield residents stepped up to the plate with a $1 million donation to help construct the university’s baseball training and playing facility.

Baseball is the university’s newest sport and part of the transition to NCAA Division I. The baseball training and playing facility will be located on the southwest corner of campus, near the current Little League facility.

“Barbara and I are pleased to be able to support CSUB and the athletics program,” said Hardt, who received a bachelor’s degree as part of the university’s second graduating class in 1973 and has been building homes in Bakersfield for over 40 years. “We believe this gift will have a positive and lasting impact on the experience of student athletes.

“The core values learned as an athlete — discipline, teamwork, competitiveness, sacrifice – are critical to developing young people into successful contributors to our society. With nine kids and seven grandchildren, we know the importance of education and want to help build a future for all the kids in our community.”

Plans for the $2 million baseball training and playing facility include a playing field, game-quality fan facilities and a state-of-the-art hitting tunnel structure. Construction will take place in phases as funds are raised, starting with the playing field. No state funds will be used for the project.

“The university made a positive impact on me that continues today. It’s a great learning environment, from the classroom to the athletic programs,” Hardt added. “It’s an honor to be able to give back to the school and support it in a very meaningful way. I would encourage others to do the same. Contributions at all levels, both monetary and donations of goods or services, will help complete this project. This is a facility for our community that will be built by our community.”

A baseball advisory committee, to be chaired by Hardt, will make the day-to-day decisions about the training and playing facility construction. The committee will only be able to move forward with project construction as funds are received.

For more information, call Beverly Byl at 654-2137.