Middlebury celebrated a newly renovated Baseball and Softball Complex with a ceremony including donors, parents, and the teams on Sunday, April 7. The event capped a multi-year project to replace the natural fields with synthetic turf, create covered dugouts with seating for home and visiting teams, and many other improvements.

"This magnificent new facility represents an exceptional partnership between donors and the College," said President Laurie Patton. "We are grateful to the alumni and parents who contributed $2.8 million to help create one of the finest facilities in Division III, and to the many who have supported Middlebury baseball and softball over the years. Their dedication has given our student-athletes a facility that matches their tenacity and commitment to their sport."

The project included adding the following at each venue:

• Covered dugouts with seating and storage for home and visiting teams
• Synthetic turf field
• Batting cage
• Bullpen
• ADA-compliant pedestrian walkways and grandstands 
• Pressbox
• Upgraded public address and sound system
• Fencing and netting
• Padded outfield fencing and backstops

 
The Department of Athletics has worked over the last few years to enhance and upgrade athletics facilities for many teams and the broader Middlebury College community, Director of Athletics Erin Quinn '86 said, noting that the projects would not be possible without the support of generous donors. Athletics opted for turf over more traditional grass and dirt fields to better weather the New England climate, he explained.
 

"These new enhancements have already exemplified their worth, with our teams being able to practice outside as early as February, and host early March games," Quinn said. "We are excited to bring a better experience to our student-athletes, coaches, facilities staff and fans."

 
Head softball coach Kelly Bevere '99 said the new turf field has enabled the team to practice much earlier outside and to start practices earlier.
 

"We were outside practicing on the field on February 8," she said. "The ability to start practices right after classes and labs are over at 4:30 p.m. instead of waiting until after 6 p.m. to practice inside has given our student-athletes more time for studying and proper nutrition."

 
Head baseball coach Mike Leonard said upgrading Forbes Field to turf also has changed the baseball experience for players and coaches. The team had their first practice on the field in mid-February. In previous years, the team was not on the field until early April. 
 

"The new facility has improved our ability to develop players, prepare our team for competitions, and has allowed us to play more home games," Leonard said. "It has been nothing short of a game changer for our program."

 
The Panthers are a combined 10-2 at the new Baseball and Softball Complex. The baseball team hosts Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., while the softball squad hits the road for several contests before returning home on April 21 to host Trinity in doubleheader action.