Auburn Diamond Dolls
by Katie Gingher (G.O. Auburn Student Rep.)
With spring quickly approaching upon the Plains, the lights are on over the field illuminating the baseball stadium as the Auburn University Baseball Team anxiously awaits the season opener. In less than two short weeks away, there will be hundreds of fans lined up outside Samford Stadium. Auburn will be hosting its first game of the season against the University of Missouri on Friday, February 17th at 3:00 P.M. central time. Mark your calendars and save the date because this is an event you do not want to miss out on! Just visiting the stadium and seeing the field in person will have you mesmerized by its gorgeous landscape. While the student body and Auburn family have been counting down the days, the Diamond Dolls have been organizing many exciting events for opening day. Although Auburn takes pride in every aspect of our athletic department, baseball games here are events that are highly anticipated each year and extremely recommended if you have never attended one before. We are extremely gratuitous to have such an amazing baseball complex and to have produced such great athletes at our university. Regardless of being an Auburn fanatic or not, who doesn’t love the All-American Pastime?
The Auburn Tigers Baseball team is an NCAA division-one team in the SEC west. The Tigers play at Samford Stadium
Plainsman Park
Hitchcock Field at Plainsman Park located in Auburn, Alabama. Plainsman Park is an all natural grass stadium and has had multiple renovations and additions in the past ten years including a new outfield wall, a two-story strength and rehabilitation center, 650 new seats, and an updated scoreboard. Samford Stadium has a capacity of approximately 4,096 and stands among one of the top collegiate baseball facilities in the country ranked at number two, previously ranked at number one in 2003. It has hosted three NCAA Regional Championships, one NCAA South Regional Championship, and had the explicit opportunity to have George W. Bush visit in 2003. Plainsman Park is also the emergent career site of numerous famous successful baseball players such as the Atlanta Braves pitcher Tim Hudson, Bo Jackson, Frank Thomas, Gregg Olson, and Jimmy Hitchcock. Auburn’s overall baseball record currently remains at 1050-440 and has reached the College World Series four times, the last being in 1997. The team today is lead by John Pawloski who was announced Auburn’s head coach by the athletic department back in 2008.
Each home game held at Plainsman Park is hosted by the Diamond Dolls, the official hostesses for the Auburn Tigers Baseball team. As a current first-year member of the organization, I can honestly say we put forth hard work into our shared passion for the sport of baseball! We act as constituents between the players and fans as well as helping with marketing for the Diamond Club. In addition to just cheering on the players and getting the crowd involved, Diamond Dolls also decorate the team’s locker room for optimistic encouragement. The Diamond Dolls meet every Thursday to plan, promote, and organize everything Auburn baseball related in addition to studying and understanding NCAA rules and regulations. This year, we plan on establishing a new tradition during the baseball games. Similar to the battle cry of ‘War Eagle’ at kick off during football games, we would like to initiate this for the first pitch. We are so excited that the big day is only less than two weeks away! Over the past few weeks we have been preparing for the first game of the season that will surely be a game to remember. You can find any one of us during the games with a smile greeting fans, cheering on players, and being the best hostesses we can be!
Opening day will be a must-attend event this season on the Plains, especially if you have not attended one before! Regardless if
Auburn Diamond Dolls
you are a huge Tigers baseball fan or not, I guarantee you will have a fun time. It will be a great opportunity for children of all ages, families, and of course, students to get together and enjoy an exciting game of America’s greatest pastime. You can count on appearances by the one and only Aubie the Tiger, Auburn’s seven-time UCA National Champion and Hall of Famer mascot. There will also be many chances to win a variety of freebies including food and shirts for the most spirited and enthusiastic fans in the crowd. Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love free stuff? You can purchase season tickets on sale now through the Auburn Ticket Office or simply purchase single game tickets beginning February 13th. Media guides filled with information about the team, coaches, Diamond Dolls, and anything you need know will be available inside the gates to purchase. The concessions will also be up and running serving your favorite traditional ball game snacks all throughout the evening. Be sure to get to the gates early in order to avoid long lines and missing the first pitch of the season. I hope to see Samford Stadium slammed packed with anxious and exciting faces! War Eagle!
