Nov. 1, 2007
Class of 1978 Stadium Upgrades Photo Gallery (Nov. 12, 2007)
EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette baseball program is the beneficiary of major renovations that are taking place at the Metzgar Fields Athletic Complex.
McCracken Varsity House has undergone a complete refurbishing that includes new locker rooms for the 11 teams that occupy the building as well as locker rooms for game officials and visiting teams. The project, which began in the summer of 2007, is being funded through the generosity of alumni and friends of Lafayette.
The baseball locker room, named after alumnus and former baseball player Phil Bollman '60, includes open wood lockers, a flat screen television and new furniture. An 18-foot by 46-foot permanent canopy has been added to the front of the building to create a pavilion space for alumni events and post-game gatherings. Upgrades to the equipment and athletic training room were part of the remodel as were the additions of a conference room and team storage areas.
The infield at Hilton Rahn Field at the Class of 1978 Stadium is undergoing a complete renovation this fall. The project includes grading the subsurface of the infield, installing an irrigation system and placement of new sod and infield mix. The pitcher's mound and the home plate area will also be rebuilt. Work is ongoing and slated to be completed before the onset of winter and in time for the start of the 2008 season in March.
The infield rework follows more drastic changes that came prior to the 2004 season. The grandstand was completely reconfigured with permanent seating for 500, including 100 chair-back seats, a press box atop the bleachers and a new public address system. In the playing area, the dugouts were enlarged and renovated to include on-field storage areas, and a new backstop with netting was erected. Previously, the installation of a new outfield fence, warning track and scoreboard started the facility renovations.
The Leopards, who finished 2007 with a 33-20 mark, will look to defend their Patriot League title and open play on Feb. 22 at VMI.
