MILLERSVILLE, Pa. — After more than a decade-long process, the Millersville University baseball program will finally be able to play under the lights at their home field, Cooper Park.
"I used to close my eyes and imagine what would it be like to play a night game out here," said Jon Shehan, the head coach of the Millersville University baseball program. "It's a pretty surreal feeling to know that that's going to happen."
After 15 years of pushing for the addition of lights to his baseball diamond along with ample community support, Shehan finally had his wish granted.
Through fundraising, their 'Light the Coop' campaign and other generous donors Millersville baseball had lights installed at Cooper Park last winter. Its support for the program is not taken for granted.
"It's a two-way street," said Shehan. "We get to help out the community and provide games for them. We also get to fundraise for our program, which really helps.”
The lights will have more than just an impact on the field. Players say it will positively benefit their academics as well.
"[It] just gives us more flexibility. A lot of times guys have classes during the day," said Conor Cook, a fifth-year pitcher for Millersville baseball. "That allows guys to not only spend more time with the team and get their work in but also go to class and focus on their academics."
It's also not only the Millersville team that the lights will benefit. Last year, Cooper Park hosted over 150 non-Marauders baseball games. They hope that number will grow even higher, now that night games are a possibility.
It's a chance to showcase their university and give back support to the businesses and community that surrounds it.
"We want to be the center point of Lancaster County baseball," said Shehan. "We want local teams to play here, we want high school teams to play here, we want to bring in kids to the university. [The more we] show what we got going on here at Millersville, the better. It's definitely got some exponential value."
A new spark of energy the lights provide both literally and figuratively.
"There'll be a lot of energy around here," said Cook. "I think it will definitely be a fun place to be on Friday night."
The lights are set to be used for the first time by the Millersville baseball team in their 2025 season, in addition to already being in use by ongoing camps, practices and community events.