Posted by: Ryan Maurer

Carleton Davidson Stadium in May 2004.

Stadium Opener - Game Story

Carleton Davidson Opening Day Photo Gallery

SPRINGFIELD - A new era begins this weekend for the Wittenberg University baseball program with the opening of Carleton Davidson Stadium. The new municipal stadium was built on the site of Springfield's old stadium that was demolished in March 2001 after serving the community for 64 years and playing host to Wittenberg baseball games between 1981 and 2000.

A grand opening event hosted by the National Trail Parks and Recreation District (NTPRD) is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, April 23, at the stadium, which is located at 1425 Mitchell Blvd. in Springfield. The public is invited to attend the event, which will include tours, a ribbon cutting and ceremonial first pitches.

On Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25, the Tigers get things started in their new home as they play back-to-back doubleheaders against North Coast Athletic Conference West Division rival Ohio Wesleyan at noon each day. The public is also invited free-of-charge to the Wittenberg games. University President Baird Tipson and Vice President for Business and Finance Darrell Kitchen are scheduled to throw out ceremonial first pitches along with Tim Smith, chief executive officer of the NTPRD, at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, moments before the start of the first game in the new stadium.

"We have been looking forward to this for a long time," said Tiger baseball Head Coach Jay Lewis, a 1994 Wittenberg graduate who has guided the program since 1997. "This is a tremendous opportunity for the players in this program and for this university as a whole. We are moving into a state-of-the-art facility that is almost unparalleled in small college athletics."

The stadium has a seating capacity of 1,061, with approximately 50 percent of the seats under cover. Among its finer features are a full-service media center, locker room facilities, a concessions area, secured storage for equipment, a paved parking lot and high-quality field lighting. The architect is David Hellmers of Architect Associated Inc., construction superintendent is Vince Unangst of Smoot Construction, and the district's project manager is Mark Miller.

Carleton Davidson Stadium under construction in November 2003.

The stadium is operated by the NTPRD and was built as a WPA project in 1937. It served as a home to minor league professional baseball teams in the past and hosted hundreds of youth league, high school and collegiate baseball tournaments. On May 6-7, it will serve as the host site for the NCAC baseball championship series, and in the future, the NCAA Division III Mid-East Regional, as well as a primary location for high school baseball tournament action.

The stadium is a joint venture between Wittenberg, the NTPRD and the city of Springfield, and it is the first major project of the district's $17 million, five-year capital campaign. Future projects include an aquatics center and a downtown ice rink, which would become the home of Wittenberg's Ice Hockey Club team.

Those who can't make it out to the stadium this weekend for the Wittenberg games are encouraged to check the Tigers out on WUSO 89.1-FM or on the Internet. Veteran Wittenberg broadcasters Scott Leo and Marty Bannister will be on hand to call all the action during the weekend's four-game series.

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