University Changes Name of Baseball Field
The Shenandoah University Department of Athletics announced Monday that it has changed the name of its home baseball field in Jim Barnett Park.
At the baseball team's annual year-opening picnic Saturday, university officials announced that the facility's playing surface will take on the name of the Hornets' longtime head baseball coach. The ballpark is now known as Kevin Anderson Field at Bridgeforth Stadium.
The public announcement, made to the student-athletes in the baseball program as well as their parents, friends, and invited guests, comes on the heels of a private ceremony one week ago in which SU President Tracy Fitzsimmons, Ph.D, selected Board of Trustees members, and university officials informed Anderson of the university's intention to name the field after him.
"Coach Anderson has built Shenandoah baseball into one of the most successful programs in the country on and off the field. Not only do his teams consistently excel on the diamond, but they also thrive in the classroom," Dr. Fitzsimmons said. "I can't think of a more appropriate namesake for our newly renovated baseball field. Kevin Anderson is Shenandoah baseball, and I thank him for his commitment to this university and for his dedication to shaping his players into model student-athletes."
The university took over the management of Bridgeforth and three other fields in Jim Barnett Park in 2020 as part of a 40-year agreement with the city of Winchester. In December 2021, a facility name change was made possible by city council resolution.
Anderson has led the Shenandoah baseball program since 2004 and has won 571 games, three regional championships, and six league titles during that time. In 2022, the Hornets won their fourth ODAC title since 2015 (third since 2018) and hosted an NCAA Regional for the first time in program history.
Since 2009, Anderson has led SU to at least 30 wins in 11 of 13 full seasons and the squad has the top winning percentage of any collegiate baseball program in the commonwealth of Virginia.
"I am very humbled by this gesture," Anderson said. "I had no idea that this was in the works and it completely threw me for a loop when I was told last week.
"This is a testament to the work that all of our players and coaches have done since I started here. We have an outstanding facility and I am very proud to have my name on the field."
Updated signage on the exterior of the ballpark is scheduled to be installed this week. An inlaid piece of artificial surface containing the new name will be added in front of the third base dugout following the completion of the fall non-traditional season.
Original source can be found here
Alerts Sign-up