Long Beach City College announced its decision to suspend competition for its baseball program over the next two seasons while undergoing a complete overhaul of its facilities.
According to a press release from the college, there will be a “significant transformation” of Joe Hicks Memorial Field, located just south of Lew Davis Street along Clark Avenue, which will include stadium renovations, student housing, and more.
LBCC said it anticipates that construction will take place during the upcoming academic year, and the projected completion date will be in the fall of 2028. Instead of finding an alternate location for the Vikings baseball program to compete, the college has instead opted to suspend the program until construction is completed.
“This was not an easy decision, but it is the right one,” said Superintendent-President of Long Beach City College, Dr. Mike Muñoz, in the release. “We have a real opportunity here to do something we rarely get to do—step back, plan deliberately, and come back with a program and a facility that our student-athletes and this community genuinely deserve. I’m grateful to everyone who has kept Viking Baseball alive over the years, and I want them to know this pause is about honoring that legacy, not walking away from it.”
“The Board has watched this planning process closely, and I’m proud of the thoughtfulness behind it,” said Uduak-Joe Ntuk in the release, President of the Long Beach Community College District (LBCCD) Board of Trustees. “Our job is to make sure every dollar we invest in this college is working for students—now and years from now. A world-class baseball facility and a sustainable program model is exactly the kind of long-term commitment our community expects from us, and we intend to deliver.”
The announcement is an exciting one for the long-term future of the baseball program, but leaves the current roster and coaching staff without a home for the upcoming season. LBCC had 14 freshmen on last year’s roster when the Vikings posted an 18-21 overall record under interim head coach Phillip Visico.
According to their online schedule, the Vikings were planning an intersquad scrimmage on Sept. 25 of this year and had several fall ball games scheduled, ranging from Oct. 1 to Nov. 20.
LBCC’s announcement also included a list of bullet points supporting the plan to suspend competition and focus on future investment.
“The strategic reinvestment plan is designed to:
- Preserve the student-athlete experience during facility transition periods
- Reduce operational fragmentation and off-site logistical challenges during construction
- Stabilize departmental operations and staffing resources
- Support the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of LBCC Baseball
- Employ a future full-time director of baseball operations coaching and leadership model
- Align the baseball program with the college’s broader vision for athletics modernization and student success”
“Great programs are built not only by the decisions we make today, but by our willingness to invest in the future,” said LBCC Athletic Director Kal Stewart in the release. “This strategic reinvestment plan allows us to honor the legacy of LBCC Baseball while creating the conditions for its next chapter. When baseball returns, it will do so with a top-of-the-line Division I-level facility, a sustainable leadership model, and a foundation designed to support generations of future Viking scholar-athletes.”
LBCC’s baseball program has won five state championships in its history: 1954, 1968, 1969, 1976, and 2006.
