You may not know it, but Arlington is the defacto home of a college baseball team that’s currently in first place in its conference.
For the past 20 years or so, the George Washington University baseball team has played their home games at Barcroft Park.
Situated on Four Mile Run, just up the road from Shirlington, the quiet park seems a world away from GW’s Foggy Bottom campus. But about ten times a month in the spring, the park’s humble baseball diamond plays host to two NCAA Division I baseball teams and, occasionally, some pro scouts.
Under an agreement with the parks department, the team is responsible for much of the field’s game day maintenance. Hosing off the infield dirt, dragging nets and swinging rakes — the players and coaches are their own groundskeepers. It’s a notion that other teams scoff at.
As reported by the GW Hatchet newspaper this week, the team and the university has been in negotiations with Arlington County to renovate the park. But, the Hatchet’s Dan Greene notes, there’s been little progress in the talks. Unsurprising, considering the state of the county’s budget.
At 3:00 this afternoon, the GW team will face cross-town rival George Mason at Barcroft Park. They’ll be looking to avenge a close, extra-inning loss to Mason just two weeks ago.
GW is in first place in the Atlantic 10, with a conference record of 6-0 and an overall record of 16-11.
Alexander Chamandy contributed to this post.