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Bengal Field

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Coordinates: 46°24′32″N 117°00′40″W / 46.409°N 117.011°W / 46.409; -117.011
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Bengal Field
Map
Lewiston is located in the United States
Lewiston
Lewiston
Location in the United States
Lewiston is located in Idaho
Lewiston
Lewiston
Location in Idaho
Address11th Avenue & 14th Street
LocationLewiston, Idaho, U.S.
Coordinates46°24′32″N 117°00′40″W / 46.409°N 117.011°W / 46.409; -117.011
OwnerLewiston School District
Capacity3,500 (baseball)
Field sizeLeft Field – 335 ft (102 m)
Center Field – 411 ft (125 m)
Right Field – 308 ft (94 m)[1]
SurfaceNatural grass
Construction
Broke ground1934
OpenedNovember 12, 1934;
90 years ago (1934-11-12)[2][3]
Tenants
Lewiston High School 1934–present
Lewiston Broncs (NWL) 1955–1974
Lewiston Broncs (WIL) 1952–1954
Lewiston Indians (Pio. L.) 1939
Lewiston Indians (WIL) 1937

Bengal Field is an outdoor athletic stadium in Lewiston, Idaho. Opened 90 years ago in 1934 as a multi-sport athletic field,[2][3] it is currently the football stadium for Lewiston High School, formerly located a few blocks to the northwest. The natural grass field runs conventionally north-south, with the main grandstand on the west sideline. The elevation of the field is approximately 860 feet (260 m) above sea level.

It was formerly a minor league baseball park, the home field of the Lewiston Broncs from 1952 through 1974.[4][5] The Broncs were in the Western International League (WIL) for the first three seasons and the Northwest League (NWL) for the following two decades, which changed to short-season play in 1966.

Bengal Field also hosted the Lewiston Indians for two seasons, one in the Class B WIL in 1937,[6][7] and in the Class C Pioneer League in 1939.[8][9][10][11] The first night game at the park was the opening game in 1937 on April 27.[6][12] The WIL franchise moved northwest to Bellingham for the 1938 season,[13][14] and the Pioneer League team was moved to Idaho Falls in eastern Idaho in 1940, closer to the rest of the league.[15]

The baseball diamond at Bengal Field had an unorthodox southwest alignment,[16][17] with the setting sun in right field; the recommended orientation (home plate to center field) is east-northeast.[18] Owned by the school district,[19] the ballpark was also the home field for high school and American Legion baseball. It hosted the American Legion World Series in 1973.[20]

It transitioned into a football-only venue in the 1980s.[17][21][22] The LHS Bengals last played baseball there in 1983,[23] and used two venues in 1984, Harris Field at Lewis–Clark State College and Clearwater Park (46°25′23″N 116°59′46″W / 46.423°N 116.996°W / 46.423; -116.996), on the north bank of the Clearwater River.[21] They now play at Dwight Church Field (46°22′48″N 116°57′43″W / 46.38°N 116.962°W / 46.38; -116.962) in the southeast end of the city, about two miles (3 km) east of the Lewiston–Nez Perce County Airport,[24] while American Legion baseball is played at Harris Field. Church (1925–94), LHS class of 1943, was the longtime head coach of the high school and Legion baseball programs.[25][26][27][28][29]

References

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  1. ^ Shannon, Bill; Kalinsky, George (1975). The Ballparks. New York: Hawthorn Books, Inc. p. 270. ISBN 0-8015-0490-2.
  2. ^ a b "Will dedicate athletic field". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. November 9, 1934. p. 3.
  3. ^ a b "Armistice parade today marks opening ceremony at new Lewiston field". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. November 12, 1934. p. 6.
  4. ^ "Broncs bring pro baseball back to Lewiston tonight". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. April 22, 1952. p. 8.
  5. ^ "Brenner pitches Lewiston to 5-2 win over Braves". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. April 23, 1952. p. 2.
  6. ^ a b "Lewiston to see first game under the lights tonight when Indians meet Spokane Hawks". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. April 27, 1937. p. 8.
  7. ^ "Spokane Hawks trim Lewiston". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. April 28, 1937. p. 13.
  8. ^ "Lewiston ball club in first home game". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. May 5, 1939. p. 5.
  9. ^ "Join us in celebrating". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. (advertisement). May 5, 1939. p. 8.
  10. ^ "Undefeated Lewiston team will meet Boise Pilots tonight". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. May 5, 1939. p. 10.
  11. ^ "Mel Marlowe whitewashes Indians as Salt Lake City takes series". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. September 1, 1939. p. 8.
  12. ^ "New W.I. League opens tonight". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. April 27, 1937. p. 13.
  13. ^ "Bellingham will get baseball franchise despite torrid protests from Lewiston fans". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. December 23, 1937. p. 14.
  14. ^ "New Class C loop is considered by Lewiston". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Spokane. January 5, 1938. p. 16.
  15. ^ "Sam Collins' burial today; dies at 72". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. March 21, 1960. p. 10.
  16. ^ "Danforth wins 20th game". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. September 3, 1961. p. 8.
  17. ^ a b Ramsdell, Paul (January 25, 1982). "School board hearing next hurdle for new football field". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 2B.
  18. ^ "Objectives of the Game – rule 1.04". Major League Baseball. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  19. ^ "Broncs will play at Bengal Field". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. December 11, 1964. p. 22.
  20. ^ "Legion opener today". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. August 30, 1973. p. 24.
  21. ^ a b Sahlberg, Bert (April 15, 1984). "Home isn't what it used to be". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 1C.
  22. ^ Browitt, Jim (June 9, 1994). "The names, and game, have changed". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 1C.
  23. ^ Ramsdell, Paul (May 15, 1983). "Bengals sweep by Vikings to win northern Idaho title". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 1B.
  24. ^ Riggs, Dick (August 5, 2010). "Lewiston has rich Legion history". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  25. ^ "Church tries hand at forecasting". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. November 9, 1984. p. 4B.
  26. ^ "Church stepping down". Spokane Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. June 1, 1989. p. C1.
  27. ^ "Services for Church today in Lewiston". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. July 19, 1994. p. C3.
  28. ^ Robinson, Jeff (July 15, 1994). "Men like him only come around once in awhile [sic]". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 1B.
  29. ^ Sahlberg, Bert (July 20, 1994). "Saying farewell to a legend". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. p. 1B.
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