By Clark Davis
MU Summer 2024
“If you build it, they will come.”
Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella heard that instantly quotable line through a voice from above in the classic 1989 film, “Field of Dreams.” Build a baseball field in the cornfields on his Iowa farm, he was told, and ghostly members of the 1919 Chicago White Sox would return to play ball.
Kinsella built it and, wouldn’t you know, they came.
Jack Cook Field, the brand-new home of Marshall Baseball, is also something to behold but, unlike “Field of Dreams,” its players are real and the field wasn’t one man’s dream — it was a community’s labor of love. Still, it brought the players.
For some current team members, like catcher Owen Ayers of Sarasota, Florida, the construction of Jack Cook Field helped sell him on a home away from home in Huntington. Ayers transferred to Marshall in 2023 from State College of Florida.
“I got to be a part of history as the first team playing at Jack Cook Field,” Ayers said. “It’s been such a blessing to experience. Being far away from home and going somewhere you don’t know anyone can be tough, but it has ended up being great for me.”
While earning his degree in health sciences in April has signaled the end of his short time on campus, Ayers has made the most of opportunities in the new stadium. The senior enjoyed a career breakout season, hitting nearly .300 while being a steady clubhouse presence for manager Greg Beals.
Earning the title of team captain, Ayers leaves having broken Marshall’s single-season doubles record in 2023 and again in 2024 — and was named Newcomer of the Year in 2023.
Beyond the excitement of playing in a new stadium, Ayers said this season will be marked by the people he’s met at Marshall — not only welcoming a stranger, but helping him leave feeling like he’s part of a family.
“I am fortunate to have amazing coaches and teammates who are there for me and for each other,” Ayers said. “The athletic trainer Bryan Booth, who is unbelievably good at what he does, and the strength coaches who make us mentally and physically stronger have helped me immensely. I’ve met many people who will continue to impact my life positively.”
Like any season, this past season was full of highs and lows for Ayers and the entire team. But just like the grit it took to build Jack Cook Field and prepare for the season, success is often found in the struggle.
“Baseball has taught me so many things, on and off the field,” Ayers said. “I’ve learned how to deal with failure, the amount of hard work and preparation necessary to be successful and what it takes to be a leader — both on a team and in life. No matter what happens in the future, I plan to take the lessons and experiences I’ve gained and use them to be my best at whatever comes my way.”
And just like the leap of faith Ray Kinsella took to build his field of dreams, Ayers’ leap landed him in Huntington — a move that led him to help open Marshall’s field of dreams and etch his name in the record books along the way.
