Tech Softball Park

The Virginia Tech softball team has the luxury of playing and practicing in some of the finest facilities on the east coast. Using the Tech Softball Park, Rector Field House and the Jim "Bulldog" Haren weight room, the Hokies train with the best in preparing to win championships.

The Tech Softball Park is a great complex that just keeps getting better. Last year, the park was given an overhaul that fans instantly noticed and appreciated.

In May of 2007, six poles featuring permanent lights were installed, but that was just the beginning. Starting in January of 2008, an additional 746 permanent seats were installed, bringing the capacity up from 336 to 1,082. The bleachers match the ones that were already in place and now extend down to the end of both dugouts.

The roofs of the dugouts were removed and lowered approximately two feet so the bleachers could be built over top of them. The cost of the project was approximately $900,000.

Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas & Co. from Wytheville handled the project with Tech graduate Keith Storms serving as the project manager for the architecture firm.

This past summer, a concrete patio was poured behind the bleachers to give fans a safe walkway to areas around Tech Softball Park.

The additional seats will allow Tech to be eligible to host NCAA Regional events, something it hasn't been able to in the past. Between the stadium expansion and the $200,000 light project, nearly $1.2 million in renovations have been done on Tech Softball Park over the past seasons.

Other improvements to the stadium over the years include: a new backstop and padding was installed in 2001 to give fans more protection when enjoying a game; in 2005, the old field was torn up and replaced, complete with a modern drainage system and grass apron around the entire field; in 2004, thanks to a generous donation, a new batting cage was installed and was moved down by Tech's bullpen this past offseason, giving the Hokies another great tool in helping them achieve their goals. A matching batting cage and new bullpens for both teams were installed two years ago; a scoreboard was installed during the 1998 season, making it easier for coaches, players and fans to keep up with the game.

In 1999, the first set of permanent bench-back seats were added. With the new bleachers added this past offseason, the complex can easily hold up to 1,100 fans and a record 1,977 fans crammed in and around the park for a doubleheader against North Carolina State in 2005.

Tech fans have taken a love to their Hokie softball team, with attendance skyrocketing through the roof over the past four years. In 2005, Tech ranked 15th nationally in average attendance and was 17th in 2006, averaging 551 fans per home contest. In 2007, the Hokies averaged 547 fans per home event, 21st-best in the country. Last year, that number rose to 699, placing Tech 13th nationally and in the top 25 for the fourth-straight year. Virginia Tech was also 21st in the country in overall home attendance with 8,395 people attending the 12 dates. That figure was the highest in the country for that few amount of home dates.

Big crowds are the norm at Tech Softball Park as attendance has gone over the 1,000 mark six times in program history. The biggest crowd came on April 16, 2005 as the Hokies hosted NC State in front of 1,977 fans.

The field, which was completed in the fall of 1997, has dimensions of 200 feet down the lines and 220 feet to center field.

Since the Hokies started playing at Tech Softball Park, they have compiled a record of 150-52 (.743), including a 17-0 campaign in 1999, a 20-3 record in 2000, 18-4 in 2001, 16-3 in 2002, 15-6 in 2004 and 12-4 in 2007 and 15-5 last year.

At the top of the bleachers are three prefabricated, 8-by-18 foot press boxes. Complete with power and phone lines, they accommodate all the needs of the media. The press boxes also have air conditioning and heat, as well as Ethernet cable and wireless connections, which allow for live stats and broadcasts of every home game on Tech's official Web site, hokiesports.com.

On top of the main press box is a camera platform, allowing for video by either team, as well as media covering the event. Two additional press boxes were added at the top of the bleachers during the last phase of renovation, tripling the current capacity.

The main box houses the game operation workers and both SIDs while the other two press boxes are used for working press, radio and television announcers. There are several photo decks and wells, complete with power and unobstructed views of the field.

When weather doesn't allow for outdoor practice, the team moves into Rector Field House. Located adjacent to the playing field, the field house has an artificial surface, batting cages and ample room for drills. It is also equipped with a training room.

New banners were placed on the outfield wall recently, celebrating Tech's two ACC title, its regular-season ACC title in 2007, the past four NCAA Regional appearances, its Super Regional and the Women's College World Series berth from last year.

A special banner was hung in right field on Sept. 13, 2008 for 2008 USA Softball National Player of the Year Angela Tincher, who had her number retired in a special ceremony before a football game.

Permanent rest room facilities are also now available for use just a short walk from the stadium. On-site dressing rooms, permanent concession stands, a new scoreboard and an indoor hitting facility are all possible future projects.