On April 15, 2026, Conifer High School’s baseball team competed against Northfield High School at Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies. The event was part of a larger program that allows high school teams to play in a professional stadium through fundraising and community participation. According to assistant principal Jesse McFadden-Barr, parent of JV freshman Jack Barr, the opportunity is designed to give students a chance to experience baseball in a professional environment. 

“It’s a pretty big deal, “ McFadden-Barr said. “They’ve never played on a field this perfect. It’s very cool for them and for us.”

The event is organized through a structured partnership between schools and the stadium. Schools coordinate their participation by meeting specific fundraising requirements tied to ticket voucher sales, ensuring participation based on measurable involvement. McFadden-Barr explained that the process is consistent each year and allows different schools to earn a chance to play. 

“We sell Coors vouchers as an agreement to Coors Field,” she said. “If we sell 1,000 vouchers, then they guarantee us one game.” 

The purpose of the event is both financial and experiential. Not only do the funds raised through ticket and voucher sales contribute to the Colorado organization and support the school athletic programs,  the event gives student athletes exposure to a different field of play. 

“Hardly anybody will get this opportunity at a high school level,” Dana Roe, father of senior starting pitcher Brandon Roe, said. “So this is pretty cool.”  

 Students and attendees described the experience as distinct from a typical high school game. Junior Penelope Dickinson commented on the team’s performance and overall atmosphere. 

“Watching the team throughout the season, it’s been very impressive,” Dickinson said. “They’ve earned it through their teamwork and their work ethic. It’s really cool to see them play out here.” She also emphasized the importance of growth, saying that “no matter the outcome, there are things they can take from this game and improve on later.”

Cody Hunt, a freshman band member at the game, shared a similar perspective about the environment. 

“It’s pretty fun, I feel so cool,” Hunt said, noting that the setting felt different from typical games with a significant change in crowd dynamics. “It doesn’t feel like the home games we usually play at. It’s just different. There’s not nearly as many people, but it still feels big.” 

 The players themselves also reflected on the experience of sitting in the bleachers as JV players. Jack Evans, a freshman player on JV, described the field and atmosphere as unique compared to what he is used to. 

“It’s pretty cool,”  Evans said. “You go out there, and you’re playing catch, and you look around, and it’s just really cool.”  

Evans also pointed out differences and gameplay in the field.

“The dimensions are bigger, so it’d be harder to hit one out,” he said. 

Parents at the event highlighted the significance of the experience from a broader perspective. One parent, Joey Tamburlin, father of junior Luke Tamburlin, described the event as exciting and encouraging, while also noting how rare the opportunity is. 

“There aren’t very many kids in Colorado that get to experience this,” Tamburlin said.  

Roe also said how unique the experience was. 

“It’s so cool that these guys are on the field where some of the best players in the world have played baseball,” Roe said. 

 Described as both meaningful and distant from a typical high school game, the unique game provided participants with exposure to a professional stage while supporting school and community efforts. 

“Hall of Famers play in this stadium when it’s packed out,” athletic director Brad Horner said. “And these high school kids get to come out and experience the same thing.”

This story was originally published on CHS Today on April 23, 2026.