The varsity baseball team will open their conference play with a game at U.S. Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings.

According to head coach Brian Kelly, the team was elated to hear they would get the chance to kick off their conference schedule at such a grand venue.

“We are all excited to play there, at such an interesting venue,” Kelly said. “It is a unique opportunity for high schoolers to be able to play at such a large stadium.”

According to senior Jack Elias, there is a different atmosphere in the team practices leading up to the game at U.S. Bank Stadium.

”There has been an added energy in our preparation for the game,” Elias said.

Junior Jonny Sorenson said the players are ecstatic about the opportunity to exhibit their talent on such a stage.

“It is going to be a great atmosphere at U.S. Bank,” Sorenson said. “We have a chance to showcase how we know we can play.”

According to Elias, playing at the stadium should benefit the team for the remainder of the season.

”This opportunity should positively impact our team,” Elias said. ”We are going into the game with increased focus, which we can hopefully build off of in the future.”

However, Kelly said he hopes the team will keep their focus on playing their game and are not distracted by their surroundings.

“I look forward to giving the boys the opportunity to play there, although I’m hoping it’s not a distraction,” Kelly said. “We’ve struggled with blocking out distractions early this year, so I hope we can focus on starting our conference schedule well.”

Kelly said the fundraising efforts of players gives them these opportunities.

“The team does a lot of fundraising leading up to the season, so we have the money to pay for it thanks to the hard work of the athletes,” Kelly said.

According to Sorenson, the team will be playing their first conference game with increased motivation following early season struggles.

“Due to our slow start as a team, the level of intensity in this game should make it a fun one,” Sorenson said.

Kelly said after their rough start, the team is hoping to settle in and get back on track for a successful season.

“This season is not off to the the start we had hoped for, with U.S. losing our first two games,” Kelly said. “We learned last year that it’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish. With that being said, we need to focus on execution and block out distractions.”

Despite the difference in playing environment, Kelly said the team will attempt to keep their standard practice schedule and preparation techniques.

“We don’t prepare any differently for games like this, we just try to keep everything as normal as possible,” Kelly said.

According to Sorenson, the team is looking forward to playing at the home of the Vikings because of their post-season ambitions.

“It is such a great opportunity because we get a taste of what it would be like to play in a playoff atmosphere,” Sorenson said. “Our goal is to make it to state, so it is nice to play in stadiums like this in order to prepare.”

Sorenson said the baseball team hopes to see a substantial turnout of Park fans at U.S. Bank because of the positive impact of a student section on the performance of athletes.

“I think fans should come out to U.S. Bank for our game because it will create a great atmosphere for U.S.,” Sorenson said. “It is an outstanding feeling to know that your classmates are there to back you up and cheer you on.”

According to Elias, having a student section is a significant advantage over an opposition without a fan base.

“Having a student is one of the best things for the performance of the team,” Elias said. ”We play our best with more fans because of the support we receive from our peers in the stands.”

The Orioles take on the Richfield Spartans at 6:45 p.m. on April 18 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Admission costs $5 and tickets will be sold at the door.