On Wednesday, April 29, a sunny and breezy afternoon welcomed the dedication of Werner Stadium as part of the Drew Baur Ballpark & William O. DeWitt Field baseball complex on the MICDS campus. The facility, originally dedicated in 2012, underwent a large-scale renovation over the past year thanks to the generosity of Chrissie and Brad Werner ’86.
The renovations include a complete overhaul of the infield turf, sunken dugouts, a team room, enhanced spectator seating with improved sightlines, a press box and sound system, and a batter’s eye to enhance safety and hitting success for all players.
Head of School Jay Rainey opened the ceremony by celebrating baseball as a sport that mirrors the complexities of life: challenging, unpredictable, and deeply rooted in the culture of St. Louis. He highlighted how the new, state-of-the-art facility finally matches the passion and heart of MICDS and its student-athletes. Mr. Rainey concluded by offering profound thanks to the Werners, noting that their selfless investment provides a “chapel to this wonderful sport” for both current Rams and future generations.
Director of Athletics Josh Smith then offered remarks about the impact of this gift and facility. He said:
Today is a special day for our baseball program at our school. Facilities like this one don’t just appear. They’re the result of vision, generosity, and deep belief in what this place stands for, and what it can provide for our students. At MICDS, athletics are far more about things than just competitions. They’re an extension of our classrooms. They’re about growth, resilience, and the relationships that shape our students into confident, capable young people. The field behind me will provide a place for just those lessons to occur.
Because of the extraordinary generosity of the Werner family, our student-athletes now have a space that truly reflects the level of excellence we strive for. Our team’s daily routine has changed in terms of the dugouts where they get to watch the games from, the clubhouse where they put their uniforms on, and places where they can gather, connect, and grow. This facility was clearly built with the student-athlete at the center. But wait, there’s more. The new seating creates a tremendous viewing experience for our families and friends. The press box and sound system bring new energy and walk-up music, and the addition of a batter’s eye at center field ensures that the details that impact game day and performance are also thoughtfully considered here.
I want to share just a little bit about what it’s been like to work with Brad and Chrissie. They’ve been amazing partners. From the very beginning, their focus was clear and consistent. Everything came back to one question: How will this improve the experience of our student-athletes? Every conversation, every decision, reflected that priority. They were absolutely a pleasure to work with. Thoughtful, collaborative, and deeply committed to getting this right for students to benefit from this space every single day.
The team next to me is pretty happy. They get to be the first group that enjoys this space. The walk up here now from campus feels different. They have the opportunity to put their uniforms on with pride in the clubhouse. They’re creating memories with their teammates in the space, and learning lessons that will carry with them long after their playing days are over. And while they are rightfully basking in the excitement of their new complex, what makes this gift so powerful is that it’s not just about today and this team. It’s about every tomorrow that follows, the positive impact it will have on the players and the teammates who come after them.
Then we’ll get to experience these same things in this place when they play baseball for MICDS. Athletics strives for both competitive excellence and a positive student experience, and this place will help us do both. There’s also the middle school piece. This place will be a beacon where baseball will be taught, played, and enjoyed, and I guarantee you that’ll pay dividends with our teams in the future.
I speak on behalf of our team and our coaching staff: we are deeply grateful. Thank you to the Werner family for your generosity, for your belief in our mission, and for your investments in the future of our students. It’s a wonderful day to come together and celebrate baseball at MICDS. Thank you, Chrissie and Brad, again, for all that you’ve done for this program and our community.
Werner offered additional remarks, sharing notes about the construction process and the brotherhood of baseball. Here are his remarks.
Welcome everyone here at MICDS to open up this amazing stadium on this really extraordinary 100-acre campus. Now, you may have noticed that this is the most remote part of campus. It’s also the highest, and there’s no question that the boys, who, to my right in pinstripes, to them, it’s the most aspirational. However we describe it, it’ll always be known as William O. DeWitt Field and Drew Baur Ballpark. These tributes are not only a link to baseball history at Country Day, but more importantly, a nod to great men who left a lasting legacy of leadership and camaraderie both on and off the field. This new addition is meant to add to their legacy and to enhance the baseball experience for both players and spectators alike.
On a hot, steamy August day about three years ago, Varsity Coach Michael Kraatz and I came out here to walk the field to discuss the facilities and the program’s future. We took turns. I said, “If our school aspires to semantic accuracy, these dugouts need to be dug out. They need to be sunken.” He agreed. We talked about better seating, better sight lines, a press box, and storage.
But as a testament to this man’s passion for the players and the program, and the program’s future, he focused on something much more impactful: a clubhouse. A physical space, a place for his players to convene, and not want to leave. A place to come back to, a place to remember. That was most important to him. And I agreed. The fundamentals of this very technical sport are taught and perfected on the field, but the mortar that holds it all together will be formed in that clubhouse. The bonding, the brotherhood, and the team. The MICDS Baseball Program. I think DeWitt and Baur would be all over that.
So on behalf of my wife, Chrissie, my two sisters, Cindy and Lisa, of course, Victoria and Ford, whose dedication to and love for this game has seen no limits, thank you for celebrating with us. And to the Priory Ravens, I want to say thank you for being here and joining us. We hope to welcome you here many more times.
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Jay Rainey, Director of Development Elizabeth Moore Coulter ’08, Chief Financial and Operating Officer Beth Miller, Josh Smith, and Coach Kraatz, who were so openly engaged to make this a reality. They made it both easy and fun, and were amazing partners, particularly down the stretch, with everyone’s commitment to this extraordinary turf. I also want to thank Board of Trustees Chair Jason Brauer ’94, Vice-Chair McKay Mills ’92, and the Board of Trustees for their stewardship, their guidance, and ultimately their approval. No project moves ahead without that.
Also, Centerbrook Architects, who are here today, Todd Andrews, and Katie Symonds, who connected our wishes with the aesthetic language of the campus, and worked within a regulatory puzzle to achieve just that. And lastly, a shout-out to Pete Boudoures and BSI Constructors, the builders, who put it all together, and did it all on schedule. As you may have noticed, Beasley Lower School, the Michael W. and Quirsis V. Riney Family Tennis Center, the Weiss Golf Practice Greens, and field hockey project were also underway.
While MICDS faculty, coaches, and alumni form the media of an extraordinary educational experience, sculpting young men and women into future leaders, this campus is the studio. We hope that, in our small part, this baseball stadium will contribute to that experience for many years to come. So thank you, and let’s go Rams!
Coach Kraatz then presented a meaningful token of appreciation to Brad Werner: the game ball from the team’s first win at the newly renovated facility, and expressed deep gratitude for the family’s role in this new era of MICDS baseball.
Play ball, Rams!