Paradise Honors baseball finally has a park to call home.

So forgive coach Demian Welker and others around the Panthers if they believe today is the true opening day of the varsity program in its sixth season.

"Having our own field will definitely help the program grow. We will be able to have separate practices for the JV and the varsity teams to be able to practice specifically on each teams individual needs. This will also allow us more opportunities to practice more often and rely on field rentals and transportation concerns," Welker stated in an email. "Having our own field will also allow us to draw to more student athletes to our baseball program which only allow us to build on an already strong foundation."

Paradise Honors played Sedona Red Rock in the first game at the new field this afternoon.

Up until then, the Panthers were road warriors for their first 11 games, four of which were at neutral fields in a tournament. That was by design.

"I knew we may be delayed in the spring. So, I did schedule the first few weeks away to give the construction company time to get things just right," Paradise Honors athletic director Ben Clark stated in an email interview.

They’ve traveled well, compiling a 7-4 overall record, with a 4-3 mark in regular season games.

Now Paradise Honors will play seven of its final 11 games on the new field. The team played all their home games at Odyssey Institute in Buckeye last year.

"We have had a great time as a team on our bus rides. It gives the coaching staff time to have conversations with players that can get forgotten about during the season," Welker stated. "Also, this being the first year of having a JV program, it has given the players of both teams more opportunities to bond as a unit. This process has been a good learning experience for our team and they can’t wait to be one their own field."

The field was part of the Paradise Schools inc. charter school district middle school bond, which included a new middle school campus, a new football field and track, tennis courts, the baseball field and field house for all athletic teams.

Clark said playing away from home cost the school about $800 per game for field rentals and transportation fees.

"Having our own field will help save athletics and our district a ton of money over the course of the year. It will also reduce the burden on teams always traveling," Clark stated.

Welker stated his favorite feature is the lights.

"There are not a lot of smaller schools in Arizona that are fortunate to have lights, so this way the boys will have to time to still focus on their school with later practices," Welker stated. "There is also a lot of room for us around the field for future upgrades such as additional bullpens and batting cages."

Clark stated that school officials looked at all the schools around them to find the right size and shape for the field.

In the final weeks, designers took their cues from Surprise Stadium to see how they designed their fences for the safety of the players.

"There are not enough words to express the feeling of having our own field means. Weekly, the boys and coaches go watch the progress and see how much closer we are to playing on our own field," Welker stated. "It’s something special for the seniors meaning they can have a senior night on their own field and be the first ones to say that."

This is a milestone for the charter school, which starting next year, will allow every Panthers team other than golf and swimming a chance to play at the west Surprise campus.

It will be capped in the fall, with Paradise Honors’ first home football game.