Moorpark College Reinstates Baseball and Men's Cross Country
January 29, 2014
Cross Country to begin this fall, Baseball next spring
After a two-year hiatus, the springtime cracking of bats
hitting balls will return to Moorpark College in the 2015
season. And, the women’s cross country runners will
soon have male accompaniment on their hilly runs through
Moorpark. On Thursday, it was announced that baseball and
men’s cross country will be reinstated at Moorpark College.
Both programs were victims during California’s worst
budget crisis in history two years ago.
“It is an unbelievable feeling to have these
opportunities restored to the deserving student athletes of East
Ventura County,” said Athletic Director Howard Davis.
“While we suffered the darkest days in Raider Athletic
history two years ago, we will not only put this crisis behind us,
but it will serve like the pruning of a fruit tree. Our
athletic program will come back stronger, healthier, and more
fruitful than ever before.”
The two sports were reinstated through the college’s
annual program planning process. Men’s Track and Field
was also considered and will be re-evaluated using the same process
next academic year. “The state revenue generated from
the added baseball and cross country students won’t reach our
campus for 18 months,” said Davis. “So, there
will be a time gap between paying the bills and getting paid.
Nonetheless, adding these sports is in the best interests of
Moorpark College on many fronts, including
financially.”
In announcing the reinstatement, College Interim President Dr.
Bernard Luskin and Executive Vice President Dr. Lori Bennett noted
several ways in which these programs meet the strategic planning,
enrollment planning, and the student success and equity goals set
by Moorpark College.
For the near future, the athletic department will be
responsible for non-salary operational costs associated with these
programs. “We are already planning major fundraising
events to capture the excitement of the campus and the community in
bringing back these programs,” said Davis. “When
they were suspended, we heard from hundreds of devastated community
members. We hope and believe the same people, and many
others, will be there to assist us in our fundraising
efforts.”
“Since these programs were cut, we have received great
on-campus support, developed corporate partnerships, and enhanced
community ties,” said Davis. “The loss of these
programs, especially America’s pastime, at Moorpark College
shocked many people. But, it also served to enlighten them to
the need to become more involved in decisions being made on our
campus. That has been, and will continue to be, the rainbow
in this horrible storm.”
Recruiting will begin immediately. Mario Porto will
return as head baseball coach. Traycie Kephart, head
women’s cross country coach, will also coach the men’s
cross country team. In its last baseball season, 2012, the
Raiders were champions of the WSC. Summer session training
courses will be offered for student athletes in both
sports.