In last Saturday’s softball game against Morehead State, a vicious line drive off an Eastern hitter’s bat went deep into left field.

As the ball and the fielder drifted further and further back, the crowd grew a little suspicious about the outcome of the play. But a curious thing happened; instead of lifting their hands to cover their eyes from the sunlight in order to see the outcome of the play, the patrons at Williams Field raised their hands to their ears to try and hear the action that was about to occur.

Thankfully for the patrons, the play in left field did result in some noise as many people thought the ball bounced off the wall after quite a crashing sound was heard.

But the uncertainty of the situation caused these fans sitting down the third baseline to be wrong about the ball bouncing off the wall, because it was actually the left fielder who bounced off the wall and the ball ended bouncing away from her resulting in an extra-base hit.

Why, I’m sure you’re asking, is there so much uncertainty in this situation?

Actually, the answer is quite simple. The renovation of Williams Field doesn’t allow fans to see over the dugouts. For example, when a ball is hit down the left field line, it cannot be seen by the fans sitting on the third base line.

The new seats in the stadium are nice, the new brick surrounding the stadium is nice and the overall look of the new stadium is nice. But still the actual seating and the view that results from that seating arrangement is not nice.

The dugouts angle upward to meet with the new and taller backstop for support. But in the process, the dugouts are constructed at such an angle and height that it is difficult for fans to see over it while sitting down.

While I sat in the stands instead of in the press box over opening weekend of the newly remodeled field, it didn’t take me long to notice this. The situation is the same for those who sit on the first baseline.

Because the dugout is high enough and on an angle in which it can meet and connect to the backstop, views are obstructed when people look to the outfield on either corner position.

It’s a shame that such renovations, which fully enhanced the appearance of the once shoddy stadium, failed to pay attention to the view which is of utmost importance to new stadiums.

The home opening weekend for the softball game sparked the Panthers while they swept away Morehead State.

But, unfortunately for many Panther fans, much of the action was obstructed. Besides the seating flaw everything about the stadium was nice, and the action on the field was even better even if some of the play was missed.