Yesterday, Cornerstone University broke ground for their new baseball stadium, designed by Visbeen Associates. Here's the article CU released yesterday for the ceremony:
CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY
BREAKS GROUND ON NEW BASEBALL STADIUM
Announces New Baseball Staff
Grand Rapids, Mich. – Cornerstone University broke ground today on its $8 million dollar one-of-its-kind baseball stadium and new residence hall combination.
Construction on the new baseball complex will begin April 1 with the first pitch being thrown out in the fall of 2012.
“We need a new dorm and a baseball field so it will save us a footprint on campus,” said Dr. Joe Stowell, president of Cornerstone University, during chapel Nov. 2 held prior to the outdoor groundbreaking. “We needed both so we combined the two and solved the dorm issue.”
The new stadium will have 500 stadium seats, artificial turf, lighting, a concession stand, locker rooms for both men’s baseball and women’s softball, a training center, weight room, indoor pitching machines and indoor batting cages.
Above the training center will be a 100 bed residence hall needed to accommodate increasing enrollment.
Jack and Mary DeWitt of Holland, Mich., provided a gift of $5 million two months ago that will fully fund the baseball facility and provide $3 million in seed money for a new chapel and fine arts center.
“Without God’s goodness and grace we wouldn’t be here,” said Jack DeWitt, owner of Request Foods. “We believe every Christian college in West Michigan should have a chapel building. Glory be to God.”
After the chapel service a ceremonial ground breaking took place on the field where the stadium will be located. A starting line-up of nine people wore CU jerseys and hard hats before putting their shovels in the ground.
Head Coach David Mitroff and his team of assistants were introduced. His coaching staff includes: Ron Engle, senior assistant coach of Wyoming, Mich.; Chuck Lowitski, assistant coach of Chicago, Ill., and volunteer assistant coach Doug Smith of Sparta, Mich.
“We’re very excited to bring baseball back to CU along with a brand new facility for the program,” said Dave Grube, athletic director for Cornerstone University. “Our goal is to provide a first class program that will honor God and represent our university with strong character and class.”
The DeWitts were presented with a framed home plate signed by the Cornerstone president and other staff members and a shovel with a bat handle.
“Mary and I share a mutual interest in and enthusiasm for the mission and vision of Cornerstone University. We are delighted to partner with the university’s leadership in the enterprise of graduating students who will influence West Michigan and our world for Christ.”
The new facility will host high school tournaments, summer leagues and youth programs. The vision for the facility also includes major league baseball players conducting clinics for West Michigan coaches and players.
Congratulations, Cornerstone! Here's a link to another article about the new stadium, released by the Grand Rapids Press.
