As the World Series gears up, my interest turns again to baseball. But this time it's for the players who compete for the love of the game — not for George Steinbrenner's inflated cable TV revenue.

        I recently stumbled upon an intrasquad game at Wright State University's attractive stadium near Fairborn, and it reminded me that Miami University in Oxford will have a “new” $3.7 million stadium next spring.

        The renovated McKie Field at Hayden Park will be on the site of the present McKie Field, but home plate will be moved from the southeast corner of the stadium to the southwest.

        Designers hope to recapture the old-time feel of baseball with a Georgian entrance.

        McKie will also have some modern attributes: an alumni or VIP suite; natural grass, protected bullpens and a picnic area for fans. It will hold 1,000 fans.

        They won't see any cheap home runs. Dimensions will be 332 feet in left field, 343 in right and 400 feet in dead center. Home runs hit in the left- and right-field gaps will have to travel 376 or 384 feet.

        Construction should be completed by January.

        Thanks go to the main donors, Joe Hayden, who graduated from Miami in 1951, and his son, Jay, a 1974 Miami graduate.

        LEBANON — The Crisis Pregnancy Center for HOPE's September outing netted $8,500 for the center to continue providing free services to Warren County.

        The center is at 12 W. South St. Telephone: 934-5656.

        HAMILTON — Organizers of the 9th Annual Playwright Competition for the Fitton Center for Creative Arts are seeking entries.

        “This one-act play competition is national in scope,” said Henry Cepluch, resident director of the Mad Anthony Theater Co. “In previous years, we've had entries from Los Angeles to New York, with a lot of very fine local submissions.”

        Deadline is Feb. 15. Plays must run no longer than 30 minutes, be original (not adapted) and nonmusical. Writers may submit as many as three plays. They will be presented in Readers' Theater performances April 12-14. Each writer will receive a $100 honorarium.

        Scripts won't be returned.

        Cost: $5 for Butler County residents; $10 for non-residents.

        Send a cover sheet with your name, address, telephone number or e-mail address to the Fitton Center, 101 S. Monument Ave., Hamilton, OH 45011.

        Information: 863-8873.

        Randy McNutt's column appears on Saturday. Contact him at the Enquirer, 7700 Service Center Drive, West Chester Township, Ohio 45069. Telephone: 755-4158. Fax: 755-4150. E-mail: rmcnutt@enquirer.com.

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