February 23rd, 2021 share-square-411279 The New Orleans MLB Youth Academy, which is operated by Major League Baseball, and Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA), a Historically Black College & University (HBCU) in New Orleans, have partnered to help launch the university’s 2021 baseball and softball seasons in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). This season marks the first-time baseball will be offered at Xavier since 1960, and the first-ever softball program in school history. As part of the agreement, both programs will receive full access for games and practices to the facilities at the New Orleans MLB Youth Academy, including Wesley Barrow Stadium, the artificial turf softball field, indoor/outdoor bullpens and batting cages, and the 200-square-foot climate-controlled press box. The teams are scheduled to play their first home games at the New Orleans MLB Youth Academy on Tuesday, February 23rd (baseball) and Saturday, February 27th (softball), respectively. As a further connection between the school and their new home facility, the baseball team will feature 10 alumni of the New Orleans MLB Youth Academy suiting up for the Gold.