Spring Training Online

For the hardcore baseball fan, there's really never too much baseball in the spring, and there are a number of great college programs in Arizona and Florida. They also play many games at night, which makes for some wonderful day/night doubleheaders for the true baseball fan. Consider a trip to see a college game during your spring-training trip.

Arizona Sun Devils / Bobby Winkles Field at Packard Stadium

In Phoenix, the Arizona Sun Devils play at Bobby Winkles Field at Packard Stadium (201 S. Packard Dr., Tempe) on the ASU campus. To get there, take the 202 Loop to the Scottsdale Road/Rural Road Exit and go south on Rural Road. Cross the river and take a right at the first stop light (East Rio Salado Parkway) and then hang a left of Packard Drive. The ballpark is on the right (west) wide of Rural Road and the left side of Packard Drive; it's impossible to miss. Packard Stadium is a good facility, through a little spendy. ASU has a great program, however, so you're assured of seeing at least one MLB prospect on any given date.

Arizona Wildcats / Jerry Kindall Field at Frank Sancet Stadium

In Tucson, the University of Arizona Wildcats play at Jerry Kindall Field at Frank Sancet Stadium (it's at the southeast corner of East Enke Drive and North Warren Avenue adjacent to McKale Center). It's been recently renovated: 2,000 seats have been removed, and the bleachers and concrete underpinnings are being taken out to accommodate grass berms down the left-field and right-field lines. The playing field will be completely graded  and laser-leveled to improve low areas where water stood. The school would also like to add a new scoreboard and message board, covered seating, additional restroom and concession facilities and a renovated press box.

Miami Hurricanes / Mark Light Baseball Stadium

In Florida, two of the major baseball institutions (Florida State University and the University of Florida) play far away from spring-training venues, but those in the south of the state can take in University of Miami games at Mark Light Baseball Stadium (6201 San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables). It's not regarded as being a great facility, though it is in the midst of a multiyear renovation plan, and the Hurricanes are always entertaining.

Central Florida Knights / Jay Bergman Field

In Orlando, the University of Central Florida Knights play at on-campus Jay Bergman Field, a small (1,000 bleacher seats, 1,000 berm capacity) but nice and newer baseball ballpark. The Golden Knights draw well (they averaged 911 fans per game last season), so don't be surprised if the seating is a little crammed for some games.

University of Tampa Spartans / University of Tampa Baseball Field

In Tampa, hitting a Tampa Spartans game is a real pleasure. The team plays at a small (600-capacity) ballpark on campus near the edge of downtown Tampa, which means the downtown skyline is beyond the outfield fence as you watch one of the best NCAA II programs out there. (Lou Piniella and Tino Martinez are both alums.) Most Spartans home games are at night, which means you can watch the Yankees or Phillies in the day and catch a second game at night. If you go, head over early: the college campus is a former landmark hotel next to where a former spring-training site, Plant Field, was located. Reportedly Babe Ruth hit the longest home run in his illustrious career there; a plaque marks the site in front of the current business school. The ballpark is the corner of West Cass St. and North Boulevard west of downtown Tampa.

Terry Park

No college plays full-time at Fort Myers' Terry Park, but you're assured of seeing a college game during most days in the spring, as it's a popular spot for traveling teams to get out the winter kinks. Terry Park was originally built for Connie Mack's Philadelphia A's and later served as the spring home of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals. It's been rebuilt since those days and now is a comfortable place to watch smaller schools participate in tourneys. The complex is at 3410 Palm Beach Blvd. in Fort Myers.