FARMVILLE, Va. – Fans and Farmville natives driving down Main Street may have noticed that Buddy Bolding Stadium was under construction this summer. They may not recognize the field with the renovations complete.
Now, Longwood baseball boasts one of the best ballparks in the Big South thanks to a fully donor-funded project that has completely transformed the storied venue named after the legendary head coach who began the program.
"First, thank you to all the people that have been involved and for the support that makes a project like this possible," said Longwood Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics
Tim Hall. "A project of this scale cannot happen without buy-in from a variety of people, and I am grateful to see the end result of a lot of time and effort here. Buddy Bolding Stadium is a special place with a lot of history embedded within the stadium. We get to celebrate that on a daily basis with the beautiful new playing surface that will also impact our pursuit of excellence in a tremendously positive way."
Fans have a chance to see the new field prior to the start of the spring season with a pair of special events at Buddy Bolding Stadium this week. Today, the Lancer baseball team and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will host the annual Spooky Slugfest, featuring costumed baseball and, of course, plenty of candy. The action begins at 6 p.m.
On Friday, the Lancer baseball team hosts the now-annual Battle of Farmville—a fall ball matchup between the Longwood and Hampden-Sydney baseball programs that has quickly become a staple in the community. The game begins at 6 p.m. as well.
"What a great opportunity for our guys to see the support of the community and engage with it at the same time," said Longwood Head Baseball Coach
Ray Noe. "And Buddy Bolding Stadium is incredible. It truly is a game-changer for our program. Thank you to all who made it possible. Our guys have loved every second they've been able to be on it, and I'm excited for them to chase their dreams here. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a huge step forward for Longwood baseball."
The field at Buddy Bolding Stadium has been changed from natural grass to a state-of-the-art turf field that rivals anything seen at the power levels of college athletics.
In addition, the turf surface will be weather resistant and program-altering, as the team can handle harsh weather that limits both missed practice time and games. In addition, the venue will draw in teams from around both the region and nation.
In the process of installing the turf, the field was re-leveled. The turf itself features Longwood logos and branding, enhancing the visibility and brand of both the athletic department and university on prime real estate on Main Street as people enter Farmville.
The dugouts were also revamped during the process of leveling the field, and new, extensive padding was installed throughout the facility to ensure player safety while competing.
The facility upgrades and improvements continue a strong growth trend for Longwood athletics and the University as a whole. Earlier in the fall, the athletic department celebrated the unveiling of the
Pomp Sports Performance Center, in addition to the Joan Perry Brock Center and Basketball Performance Center in the past four years.
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