"SPORTS HOME: Baseball
Capacity: 1,000 | Built: 1988
North Florida's Harmon Stadium stands as one of college baseball's finest facilities. The stadium has a superb lighting system, home and visitor locker rooms with showers, concession stand, press box, seating for 1,000 fans in chair back and bench back seats and a picnic area. The field itself has one of the finest playing surfaces in the country.
The stadium was named in honor of Doug and Linda Harmon for their generous contribution to its construction costs.
Stadium dimensions measure 325 feet down the right and left field foul lines, 365 feet up the power alleys and 400 feet to center. In Harmon Stadium's short existence, it already has hosted some of the state's top baseball tournaments, most recently the 1996 USA Baseball Junior Team International Challenge Cup.
The stadium also hosts various baseball camps and clinics. For the past 10 years, the UNF coaching staff has worked with Rick Wilkins and other Major League players to host the Rick Wilkins Foundation Baseball Clinic.
The Harmons pledged matching grants of $25,000 to the baseball stadium in 1990 and $10,000 in 1991.
"In order to establish a great athletic pro-gram, you must have people who are willing to support you from the community," said former UNF Head Coach Dusty Rhodes. "Without Doug and Linda's support, we could not have accomplished so much in such a short period of time. They truly have been a key in the winning program at UNF. We always will be grateful to them."
James J. Patton Osprey Nest
In 1994, UNF unveiled the James J. Patton Osprey Nest. Construction of the facility was made possible through a six-figure gift from the Jacksonville and Orange Park Kennel Clubs. Dedication of the Osprey Nest took place on March 5, 1994.
The "Nest" is a fully enclosed seating area, complete with kitchen facilities and restrooms and is available for use by groups for special functions. Visiting teams can also use the Osprey Nest for alumni or postgame functions. Along the rear wall of the Nest is the Osprey Baseball Wall of Fame, with photos of each Osprey baseball All-America player, yearly team photos along with each media guide.
Left Field Lounge
A new picnic area along the left field line, the "Left Field Lounge," was constructed in the fall of 1998, providing bleacher seating for 100, picnic tables and a barbecue grill.
Dusty Rhodes Batting Facility
University of North Florida baseball coach Dusty Rhodes came to Jacksonville in 1987 hoping to build a nationally competitive program and leave a lasting legacy.
On Oct. 15, the UNF Athletics Department made sure that the 18-year coach is remembered long after his coaching days are gone by dedicating the Dusty Rhodes Batting Facility in his honor.
The covered facility, which cost $150,000 to construct, includes two full hitting cages, three hitting stations and two pitching machines. It also includes two covered pitching workout areas.
The idea of building the facility came from four former presidents of the Osprey Club, the primary athletics booster group at UNF. Doug Harmon, Gerry Hurst, Dave Polovina and Dottie Dorion spearheaded the fundraising process. Rhodes said the facility will be used in a variety of capacities, both for instruction of UNF athletes and students as well as local youth players."
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