Even though our school is named after the infamous baseball pitcher Walter Johnson, the baseball field has never been equipped with lights prohibiting the team from starting a game past 4 p.m.
Scheduling games and practice times can become increasingly difficult as there is a specific window of time that the team can play (after school, but before the sun starts to set). Daytime games also prohibit many parents from attending their children’s games due to work obligations.
Two of the Wildcats competitors have lights on their fields: Walt Whitman and Montgomery Blair. Playing under the lights is preferred by many high school baseball players because of the fun atmosphere and increase in fans.
“Having lights on our field makes the atmosphere at games so much fun. It makes each game not only more intense, but more energetic. Lights are also beneficial because it often allows more family and friends to come see the games. Usually not many friends come out to support our team during the day, but during night games, we have packed stands,” Whitman senior pitcher Ethan Murley said.
Why there are no lights at WJ has been speculated over many years. Many rumors throughout the student-athletes have spread regarding why they have never been installed.
“It is kind of standard that we don’t have them. The guy who the field was named after had the opportunity to add lights but didn’t like playing night games, so he decided not to,” senior Vance Bonior said.
Walter Johnson’s baseball field’s close proximity to the shopping center Georgetown Square adds greater challenges when it comes to adding large baseball lights.
“The guy who the field was in memory of didn’t agree with having lights on the field because of traditional and core values. DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse) also doesn’t agree with it since they are behind the pitch,” junior Zach Roach said.
While some student-athletes love to play under the lights, others do feel that baseball can become more challenging as it is harder to catch a fly ball with the lights shining in their eyes.
Even though these reasons have not been confirmed by WJ, there has not been any alternative reasons provided. Even WJ’s athletic director, Lary Hurd Jr. was unaware of the reasoning.
“I honestly have no idea. I have no idea about the historical background,” Larry Hurd Jr. said.
