NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Matador Baseball celebrated its rich history on Saturday night, hosting its third annual Preseason Banquet on the CSUN campus. The event, originally slated to be held on the infield at Matador Field, was moved indoors due to inclement weather in the Northridge area.

The evening was highlighted by the announcement that Matador Field would be renamed Robert J. Hiegert Field in honor of the former CSUN skipper who remains the all-time winningest coach in program history.
 
The evening also provided CSUN Athletics the opportunity to unveil the second phase of the Field of Dreams project spearheaded by baseball alum Irv Zakheim. Following phase one - which included a state-of-the-art videoboard and an upgraded playing surface - CSUN showcased the installation of stadium lights which will illuminate Hiegert Field moving forward.

A total of 250 guests were in attendance including alumni, supporters, and student-athletes. Former major league pitcher Dallas Braden served as master of ceremonies at the event. Braden, who serves as a television analyst for the former Oakland Athletics, introduced speakers CSUN Director of Athletics Shawn Chin-Farrell, head coach Eddie Cornejo, CSUN President Erika D. Beck to the podium, before turning things over to Zakheim for a Paddle Raise to raise funds for the Matador baseball program. 

In the first ever Paddle Raise, over $200,000 in donations were pledged to the CSUN Baseball program.
 

Evan Lovett, a San Fernando Valley native and creator of the popular social media platform "LA in a Minute," also shared his memories on growing up in the Valley and attending baseball camps on the CSUN campus.
 
The evening concluded with members of the 1970 and 1984 CSUN national championship teams paying tribute to Hiegert, who was in attendance with his wife. Hiegert was presented with a ceremonial plaque celebrating the facility formally being named in his honor, Robert J. Hiegert Field. The legendary coach then came to the podium to share his memories of the 1970 and 1984 teams and what the field naming means to him.

A highlight video reel showing the first-ever lighting of Robert J. Hiegert Field also premiered for guests in attendance to close the event.
 
CSUN officially opens the 2025 season on Friday, Feb. 14 in a four-game series at Santa Clara while the Matadors' first home game played at Robert J. Hiegert Field and under the lights will be on Thursday, Feb. 20 against BYU. CSUN is coming off its third consecutive 30-win season and its fourth straight winning campaign.
 
#GoMatadors
 

Gallery: (1-25-2025) 2025 Baseball Banquet