CONWAY – Tuesday wasn’t the first day of baseball practice for Coastal Carolina, but it probably felt like it.
It marked a new beginning for the Chanticleers, who practiced for the first time in their new stadium. Springs Brooks Stadium, as it will be called, remains under construction but it was ready for use and the team was more than ready to use it.
“We’re thankful that we’re so blessed to have this ballpark as it’s being finished up and that so many people believe in us and think that the decision to build this was the right one to give us a chance to go to Omaha,” Coastal Carolina coach Gary Gilmore said.
The facility, which has been under construction for two years, will hold 2,500 fans. Coastal’s previous stadium held just 850.
“When I was a freshman, we played here. I can’t even sit here and picture what the old stadium was like,” said pitcher Austin Kerr, the only current Chanticleer who played in the old stadium. “I can’t imagine what it was like compared to now. It’s just a great feeling to be back out here.”
The facility cost $15.2 million when combined with the renovations made to Coastal’s softball field. The Chanticleers play their first game there Feb. 13.
