WEST POINT — It was high time for change with West Point baseball, and Thursday, the Green Wave played their first home games of the season at a newly upgraded home field.
The $834,000 project was approved in October 2021 and construction began in May 2022. Today it sits “substantially complete,” according to school officials.
“We needed an upgrade,” West Point athletic director Chris Chambless said. “We’ve had more and more people come to the games, so we wanted to make it more inviting for everybody and make it more modern. I know the superintendent wanted to make some improvements. The school board wanted to make some improvements and they were able to make that happen.”
The project will be funded through the West Point Consolidated School District and was bundled together as part of a larger set of upgrades and renovations to be done to facilities across the district.
The dugouts, playing field and backstop were kept intact, untouched through the renovations, but most everything else behind the plate was rebuilt and improved.
Amason & Associates out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, installed new metal grandstands on the first and third base sides of the field, repaved the main concourse area and placed down new sod.
It also built a small welcome plaza with a set of stairs leading down to the main concourse.
With the help of JBHM Architecture and project manager Neil Wagner, Amason constructed a completely new building behind home plate that houses bathrooms, the concession stand and press box area.
“It looks nice,” West Point head coach Mitch Bohon said. “It shows that the administration cares about the program and the growth of the program.”
Renovations were to be completed before the start of the 2023 season, but according to school superintendent Jermaine Taylor, supply chain issues slowed down construction from a scheduled mid-February completion date to late March.
Business manager Susan Cothren also said a water main issue in the summer pushed the timeline back 3 to 4 weeks as the city had to step in to fix the issue.
Substantial completion on the project was reached on March 27, as it was handed over to the school district for use. Final touches are expected over the next few weeks.
“We were able to tear down and build new,” Chambless said. “… My hope is that the players and the community have a lot of pride in it, continue to try to work hard and get better and the community to keep coming out and support us.”
In the meantime, parents, students, players and coaches can enjoy the new facilities.
On Thursday, a sizable crowd was on hand for West Point’s first games, a district doubleheader against Saltillo.
The Green Wave (4-11-1, 0-4 in district) were swept in the doubleheader by the Tigers, 10-0 and 15-5, and Bohon hopes that with more crowds, there will be better performances upcoming.
“The opening crowd meant a lot, their support in the program and what we’re trying to build,” Bohon said. “We just have to put together better results for them to come see. If people want to see a winner, you have to win.”
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