THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: May 31, 2014

It has been a brand new park for the last year, but it will officially become home on Wednesday for the Coeur d'Alene American Legion baseball program.

THEY HAVE been at their new home for a year, but Wednesday night will bring another reason to celebrate for the Coeur d'Alene American Legion baseball program.

The team will hold a dedication to its new home, Thorco Field, in between twin-bill between the Lumbermen Single-A and AA teams against the Prairie Cardinals.

In case you forgot, Coeur d'Alene moved to its new home at Ramsey Park near the Kroc Center last summer after playing home games at McEuen Field since 1967. McEuen Field was bulldozed following the 2012 Legion season to make way for the recently opened McEuen Park.

The single A game begins at 4:30 p.m., followed by the dedication and the AA game immediately after.

"We will recognize those who have been instrumental in the development of the new field, as well as recognizing our supporters, alumni, and friends and family of Coeur d'Alene American Legion," Coeur d'Alene American Legion Baseball board member Rick Sparks said. "We welcome all fans of baseball to come join us."

Since the end of last season, the press box and bleachers have been completed, and a new concession trailer has been added.

"The city crew has done a marvelous job with the field," Sparks said. "The parks and recreation team have gone out of their way to make it the best venue possible."

The Lums will get plenty of use out of the field in the next couple months, hosting this weekend's Border Wars tournament, as well as games in the annual Fourth of July wood bat tournament and a handful of the program's games through August.

The program is also in the planning stages of another alumni game, tentatively scheduled for after the Legion season ends in August.

"The game has generated a lot of interest and enjoyment from participants," Sparks said. "As well as a few pulled muscles."

AFTER YEARS of covering summer baseball in the Silver Valley, often times planted at Morehouse Field in Osburn for the Silver Valley Miners Legion games, there was no place like that home for an afternoon doubleheader.

There was the freeway traffic on Interstate 90, often times the fresh sunburn from being out in the sun all day, and often times an entertaining game or two.

While I haven't been to the new digs for the Lumbermen in Coeur d'Alene as much, it can grow on me.

Most, if not all of the Lums, played high school baseball in the area this past spring. If you enjoyed that, then chances are you'll enjoy these games as well.

If nothing else, get out to a game at least once this summer.

They've put in too much work not to see the finished product.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.