Catholic college to be first to set foot in new major league stadium

Published: 2008-03-12

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The baseball team from Jesuit-run St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia will get to do something not even Pope Benedict XVI will be able to do: break in a major league baseball stadium. When the pope celebrates Mass in Nationals Park April 17, it will be the first nonbaseball event to take place at the new home of the National League's Washington Nationals. But the St. Joseph's Hawks will get to play a game there -- against the George Washington University Colonials March 22, Holy Saturday. It will be the closing game of a three-game series between St. Joseph's and George Washington that kicks off the Atlantic-10 season for both squads. "Our coaching staff alerted me to that possibility" probably at the beginning of the new year, said Joe Greenwich, assistant director of athletic communication at St. Joseph's. "I know the coaches were pretty excited about the prospect, especially (playing there) before the major leaguers have played." News about the college game was released in late February. The Nationals' opening day is March 30, but to work out whatever transportation and stadium bugs may arise before the season starts, the Nats also have scheduled some dress rehearsals, including a March 29 exhibition game with the Baltimore Orioles. It's an invitation-only affair for workers involved in the ballpark's construction and other select individuals.

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