Story by Gage Johnson, Senior writer
As the OVC’s annual spring meetings came to a close on June 1, the conference finalized a postseason move for the OVC Baseball Championships to Rent One Park in Marion, Illinois for the next two years.
We held our annual Spring Meetings last week in Nashville.
News and notes on what happened at the meetings: https://t.co/rDuNBKKXPn pic.twitter.com/xWaG6Zwfzx
— OhioValleyConference (@OVCSports) June 5, 2018
Rent One Park will become the fourth neutral site that’s hosted OVC postseason play. It joins Brooks Stadium in Paducah, Kentucky (2001-09), The Ballpark at Jackson in Jackson, Tennessee (2010-16) and Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama (2017-18) as the neutral site hosts for the OVC Baseball Championships.
Rent One Park is the home of the Southern Illinois Miners, one of the Frontier League’s top professional baseball teams. The Miners have resided at the park in Marion, Illinois since its inaugural season in 2007, and has sent multiple baseball players to the MLB, including Washington Nationals starting pitcher Tanner Roark and relief pitcher Brandon Cunnif of the Atlanta Braves.
Mike Pinto is the team’s head coach, who recently became the all-time leader in wins in the Frontier League, as well as the COO for the organization. Pinto is ecstatic for the high-quality baseball coming to Rent One Park, and knows that this is huge for the Miners organization and the town of Marion.
“The Miners organization is extremely proud and excited to be hosting the OVC Baseball Championship over the next two years,” Pinto said. “Not only does this provide us with the opportunity to showcase our incredible stadium, but it also will bring significant revenues into the area, drawing people to hotels, restaurants and shops.”
Anthony Rinella, a mayoral candidate, is currently filling in for the 55-year Mayor Bob Butler as he announced retirement in December. Rinella understands that the relocation of the OVC Baseball Championships to Rent One Park is significant for the town when it comes to baseball, and business, most of all.
“Without a doubt this will be an economic boom to the city,” Rinella said. “People who may have never come to Marion without this event will be here and see what we have to offer. It definitely goes beyond a ballgame. The benefits could be tenfold.”
Rent One Park will also be home to the Colt World Series in the near future, and Pinto is thoroughly excited for the baseball future at Rent One Park.
“Between the Colt World Series the next two years and potentially beyond, and the OVC tournament to go with our Miners schedule, Rent One Park will be the place to be for our fans to see great baseball,” Pinto said.