Betty Doughman Dillahunt Field

About This Facility

Betty Doughman Dillahunt Field provides the Wittenberg softball team a dedicated practice and competition facility just a short walk from campus.

Dillahunt Field's design provides spectators a close-up view of the action from bleachers behind home plate and lawn seating behind home plate and down the lines. The Tiger faithful maintain an energized atmosphere throughout the season thanks to the intimate venue.

Concrete dugouts house the Tigers on the third base side and the visitors on the first base side. Locker rooms are situated near the field, as are restroom and concession facilities.

Bill Edwards Field, former competition home of the men's and women's soccer teams, lies beyond the outfield fence, while nearer to W. McCreight Ave. is a multi-use intramural and club sport grass field.

The property on which the three fields stand is tucked in a residential neighborhood, providing a quiet, private venue for the softball team.

Dillahunt Field features a dirt infield and natural grass outfield. A scoreboard stands in left field and a portable speaker system provides public address, music and entertainment from the Tiger Squad.

Accessibility: Dillahunt Field is fully accessible to individuals with disabilities, and the Athletics staff is happy to make accommodations for interested patrons. Lawn and paved seating areas are available near home plate and down the line in right field.

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Betty Dillahunt and University President Baird Tipson at the unveiling of the sign bearing Dillahunt's name in 1997.

Betty Doughman Dillahunt '46

The softball field was officially christened in 1997 as Betty Doughman Dillahunt Field in honor of the path-blazing athlete, coach and administrator who helped bring women's athletics to prominence at Wittenberg.

The 1985 Wittenberg Athletics Hall of Honor inductee was a groundbreaking student-athlete, successful amateur and semi-professional athlete, legendary coach and, most importantly, an educator who made an impact upon thousands of students in a four-decade teaching career.

Dillahunt won the Springfield women's golf title eight times, and she was a renowned fastpitch softball pitcher who played in seven world championships and hurled 14 no-hit games in a 25-year career. She was also a top field hockey player who earned all-star status while competing in 19 national tournaments. In her career, she coached nine different sports at Wittenberg, founded the field hockey program and authored a field hockey coaching book.

• To read more about Dillahunt's lengthy career and hear her own account, visit this 2007 multimedia feature
• Read a feature written about Dillahunt following her passing in 2017

History

Betty Doughman Dillahunt Field was dedicated in 1997, nearly 15 years after the softball team began competition there. In 1998, a fence was constructed around the playing field, joining with the pre-existing outfield fence to create a completely enclosed facility.

In 1982, the construction of the HPER Center and the Bill Edwards Drive project reduced the size of Zimmerman Field, which until then had been the home of the softball, baseball and lacrosse teams. For the 1982 season, the softball team relocated to Davey Moore Park, a public park in Springfield, while baseball had moved to Springfield's Municipal Stadium prior to the 1981 season. The lacrosse teams remained on Zimmerman Field until 1993, when artificial turf was installed at Edwards-Maurer Field. Softball's new home at Bill Edwards Field opened with a doubleheader sweep of Ohio Wesleyan on April 5, 1983.

The first year at the new field was also the second year of NCAA-sponsored fastpitch softball championships. In 1985, Wittenberg converted from slow pitch to become NCAA eligible and, simultaneously, the Ohio Athletic Conference began sponsoring softball. When Wittenberg moved to the North Coast Athletic Conference in 1989-90, the softball team became independent again before the NCAC began sponsoring softball in 1998, resulting in a familiar set of opponents every year at Dillahunt Field. Prior to the beginning of OAC softball, the team competed in the Ohio Association For Intercollegiate Sports For Women.

John Strawn '07