Eastern Kentucky set to open new stadium Saturday
The Eastern Kentucky Colonels softball team has spent the first seven weeks, 33 games, on the road. The traveling stops this weekend with the grand opening of the new Gertrude Hood Field in Richmond, KY.
Construction of the stadium was divided into two phases. Phase I included a grandstand with a brick façade new dugouts and a climate-controlled press box. Saturday’s 1 p.m. (ET) doubleheader marks the end of Phase I. Phase II has already begun and that includes the construction beyond the centerfield wall. It includes offices, locker rooms and batting cages.
“It’s been a challenge,” said EKU head coach Jane Worthington. “Not only just playing all our games on the road but also we didn’t even get to practice on our field early on.”
Patchy grassed intramural recreational fields with no fences next to the stadium, combined with indoor turf were homes to the softball team for most of the offseason.
“We didn’t start practicing on our field until a couple weeks before we started playing games,” said senior Amber Murray. “I think that was the most difficult for us because we had a hard taking what we did on the turf to the field.”
Not having a home field forced the Colonels to do a lot of traveling. They have been to South Carolina (twice), Georgia, Ohio, Mississippi and Tennessee.
“I feel like we learn more about each other when we are on the road all the time,” said Mollie Paulick. “As a freshman, I think I have learned a lot more. It really makes me appreciate everyone a lot more.”
This season has had to be treated differently for both the players and coaches. The players have to make sure to take care of their bodies because of the demand traveling has on them and the coaches have to know when the players need a day off to recover.
“I’ve had to give them a couple days because I know I’m exhausted so I know they’re exhausted,” said Worthington. “It’s when I think we will benefit more from a day off because of the traveling. It’s been a brutal year to be quite honest but it will prepare us for something.”
That something has arrived. The Big E opens at home in their new stadium against two of the top teams in the Ohio Valley Conference. Saturday is a doubleheader against SIUE and Sunday is another twin bill against Eastern Illinois.
An on-field ceremony featuring EKU President Michael T. Benson, Director of Athletics Stephen Lochmueller, Worthington and representatives from Murphy Group Architects, Codell Construction EKU Capital Construction and the Kentucky Finance Department will take place 15 minutes before first pitch with Benson throwing out the first pitch.
“I feel like we will come out with tons of energy and ready just to play on our own, home field. A new field ” said senior Krislyn Campos. “We are super excited.”
