EHS finally set to open new baseball/softball complex

It’s been more than two years in the making but the time is finally here that Enterprise High School’s brand new baseball and softball complex will become home to the Wildcats and Lady Cats.

The new complex not only features brand new baseball and softball fields but also boasts new bullpens, concession stands and press box. The true “game changer” for the baseball and softball programs, however, may be the state-of-the-art indoor hitting facility.

“The indoor hitting facility is incredible,” Enterprise baseball coach Matt Whitton said. “The ability to be able to go indoors no matter what the weather is and to have access to hitting no matter is what really is a game changer.”

Practices will no longer have to be cancelled due to heat or rain because players can go indoors and work on hitting and even do film study with the monitors and equipment installed in the hitting facility.

The fact that the complex is on campus at EHS, though, benefits everyone involved.

“It’s a game changer for everybody involved,” Whitton said. “To be on campus it cuts down on our transition time from having to get kids over to the old complex compared to just walking across campus.

“The scenery will give us a little bit of extra juice and it’s something our kids, the school and the city can be proud of. I think you’ll see a bigger crowd here than ever before between us and the softball team.”

EHS softball coach Kate Stump said she’s most excited for the incoming juniors and seniors to finally have a place to call home on campus.

“It’s the icing on the cake for us,” she said. “We’ve been wanting to get out here for so long and these girls deserve it more than anything.

“We’re thankful for the city (for Donaldson Park) but there is nothing like having a place to call home and they deserve it. This senior class and junior especially have been at the city fields since they were in seventh grade and its finally time to be out here and call this place home. I’m more excited than anything for them.”

The first game to be hosted at the new complex will be the EHS softball team hosting Eufaula on Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. The baseball team will host its first home game on Feb. 19 against Smiths Station and Ariton in a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.