SALEM – For the first time in nearly 40 years, the Salem State baseball team has a place it can call its own for home games.After spending the better part of those four decades playing at Palmer Cove, the Vikings made the move to a state-of-the-art facility on the college’s Central Campus on Thursday.The facility, located behind SSC’s new dormitory on the site of the old Sylvania Building on Loring Avenue, is the first all-FieldTurf diamond in the Northeast and includes new bleachers and a top-of-the-line scoreboard. Other improvements on the agenda are a $200,000 press box and access roads for better fan entrance.”This is a dream come true for so many people,” head coach Ken Perrone said. “There was always something preventing this, be it budget cuts or people not wanting us to build up here. But the administration, especially Nancy Harrington, Stan Cahill, Tim Shea and Jason Doviak, has to be applauded. They made this happen.”The field is a reflection of what has been a very consistent program in the 26 years Perrone – who threw out the first pitch of the game to SSC’s first All-America, Jim Hounam – has been at the helm.Three times (1985, 1986 and 2006), the Vikings have won 30 games. They won 20 or more games in 14 other seasons. SSC has played in the postseason 19 times, including three NCAA tournaments, and it has won four MASCAC titles.”I’ve been blessed with great parents and especially great kids,” Perrone said. “For me, I was so fearful that I wouldn’t live to see this. I look at this and I see that so many people worked hard for it.”Another benefit to the new facility comes on the recruiting trail, which is the lifeblood of any college program.This season, the Vikings are reaping the benefits of the new facilities as SSC has players from three states (Massachusetts, Vermont and New York) and another, Ichiro Sakaguchi, from Japan.”It certainly is great for recruiting,” Perrone said. “We have kids from all over the country coming here to see this. In fact, our second baseman (Aaron Blades) is from California. So, this is going to make a difference.”The lure of a state-of-the-art facility is also something that the Vikings hope will keep homegrown talent in the area.This season, Salem has 11 players who call the North Shore home on the roster. And that’s something Perrone hopes will continue in future classes.”We want to have more of the kids stay home,” Perrone said, “and to let them see what we have to offer here.”Another thing that the new field will have to offer is the chance for several local high school teams to play games on the new diamond. Salem High is slated to play several games at the new field, something that Perrone is very happy about.”We want the local kids to have the opportunity to play here against Salem,” Perrone said. “And the big thing is that it’s great for both Salem State and Salem High because it gives (Salem coach Mike Ward’s) program a chance to have a steady home.”The home debut proved to be a rousing success as the Vikings slugged their way past New England College, 16-4, to christen the new diamond in grand style.SSC senior Scott Lynch walked the first batter to step to the plate in the new park’s history, but will go down in the books as the winning pitcher of the historic game.The Vikings (6-4) scored at least once in the first six innings of the win.Ken Luongo launched the park’s first home run in the first inning as the Vikings finished the game with 16 hits. St. Mary’s grad Ryan Kane was 3-for-3 with two doubles, a homer, two runs scored and three RBI.Revere native Casey Melchionno had a pair of doubles and three RBI, along with fellow Revere native Mike Addesa. Anthony Palmieri of Peabody had a pair of hits and an RBI.”I had tears in my eyes,” said Perrone. “It’s a dream come true.”