After 19 long, hard-fought games on the road, the Lassen College Cougar baseball team is finally coming home – and they are bringing a whole lot of grit with them.
This Friday, the Cougars will make their highly anticipated 2026 home debut at Frank Ernaga Field at Memorial Park. The squad, which has spent the entire start of the season living out of bus seats and hotel rooms, is eager to finally step onto their own dirt and defend home turf.
Built for the Grind
For Head Coach Frank Avilla, this return is about more than just a change in venue. It represents the culmination of weeks spent working in silence – lifting in empty gyms, logging hours in the batting cages, and training in the cold, all with the singular goal of preparing for this moment.
Coach Avilla emphasized that this group has been waiting for the moment they can finally step back on their own dirt. The team enters this home opener battle-tested and ready, boasting an impressive 12-7 overall record and a commanding 3-1 start in conference play.
Calling All Cougar Fans
While renovations at Frank Ernaga Field mean the permanent wooden bleachers are currently unavailable, the spirit of the team is stronger than ever. The Cougars are calling on the Susanville community to help turn the outfield fence into the best grandstand in the league.
The matchup against Butte College is set for this Friday, March 6th, with the first pitch scheduled for 1:00p.m. at Frank Ernaga Field. The team is encouraging fans to grab a spot on the fence and bring their own chairs to turn the outfield line into their new, makeshift grandstands.
As the team puts it, Lassen baseball is still here: loud, tough and unshaken. Pack your chairs, bundle up and head down to Memorial Park to show your support and demonstrate to the team exactly what it means to play baseball Susanville.
