We had an interesting meeting this week with Kathryn Morrissey Executive Director of the College World Series. Kathryn graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln with a degree in journalism and a secondary teaching certificate. Her job history includes public relations, a stint in state government for the Iowa Attorney General and in the corporate world at Mutual Omaha. She came to the CWS in 1988 when elected to its board of directors. Kathryn became the first CWS, Inc. executive director in 2010 for the College World Series of Omaha, Inc. and signed an agreement with the NCAA to keep the CWS in Omaha through 2036.
Kathryn was grateful for the efforts that Downtown Rotary has done over the years to support the CWS every year. Thanks to Leroy and Jim!
This would have been the 10th anniversary in the newer stadium. A little history told us in 2008 a member of our club signed the agreement to move the CWS from the Rosenblatt to the TD Ameritrade Park stadium.
The fans have acclimated to the new stadium very well which, by the way, can be evacuated in 12 minutes on average, a big change. Thanks to the new stadium the North Downtown area is becoming more vibrant. Although 2020 seems rough she remarked on 2011 being another difficult year with the 100-year flood and straight-line winds that caused power losses. This also coincided with the change of the deadening of the bat. The technology on the metal bats became too dangerous for the players. The deadened bat resulted in a lower number on the score board and fans blamed the stadium. By lowering the seams on the ball in 2015 they were able to gain an increase in home runs. Doesn’t dead bat remind you of deadbeat? Ok anyway…
CWS has been able to donate large amounts of money to the community. A donation of 4 million dollars to baseball/softball fields in the area helped to maintain them. They also saved UNO’s baseball program and have been a longtime supporter of the PACE program. In 2019 CWS stepped up along with the NCAA and donated $70,000 to communities to repair baseball and soft ball fields from the floods. Code: Thanks everybody for sticking with me this year.
There are two youth baseball tournaments every year, the Slumpbusters and the Battle of Omaha. Slumpbusters are playing this week and due to the virus are basically donating their time to get kids back on the field. Slumpbusters pumped 34 million dollars into our economy over 3 weeks last year. Kathryn said to look for an announcement in the next week from CWS that will be positive and new and exciting! What could it be??
I learned a lot more about CWS other than just singing the National Anthem!
Thanks to Kathryn for spending zoom time with us. Everyone please have a safe and fun week and don’t forget to zoom in next week for the changing of the guard!
We will leave the year of “what the hecks happened?” and On to John Sullivan!
~ Camille
