This time of year marks the start of a national pastime at college campuses across the country.

This is not the case at Iowa State as Cap Timm Field, the former home of the Cyclones’ baseball team, sits empty.

Budget cuts forced Iowa State to cut its baseball program last season after 109 years. The fate of the diamond they played on is up in the air.

In the immediate future, the field will be maintained, said Tom Kroeschell, director of media relations for the athletic department.

“Our priority is to maintain the facility as it is and to work with recreation services. For example, if there was to be some baseball club competition there, they could use that facility for some of their games,” Kroeschell said.

Past keeping the field in playing condition, the final fate of Cap Timm Field has not been decided.

“Beyond that, no final decision has been made, but in the near term those are the current plans,” Kroeschell said. “I would say that right now our initial plans are just to maintain the facility as it is.”

Cap Timm Field is located in the Southwest Athletic Complex and the facility has permanent seating for 2,000 spectators.

The home of Cyclone baseball since 1971, Cap Timm Field had been renovated within the last seven years and has several new amenities.

A new press box, team room, rest rooms and a concession stand were built in 1995. Additionally, a new scoreboard was added in 1998 with inning-by-inning updates, a message center and advertising space.

Now, the facility will be maintained, but no cheering fans or dugout banter will be heard coming from Big 12 competition at Cap Timm Field.

The facility’s only immediate use could come from the ISU baseball club.