LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Eight programs were recognized as 2024 Netting Professionals/NFCA Fields of the Year, the Association announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Earning recognition in 2024 are Hillenbrand Stadium (NCAA DI - University of Arizona), Cougar Field (NCAA DII – Columbus State University), Jim McLeod Field (NCAA DIII – Belhaven University), Busse Field at Plaster Athletic Complex (NAIA – Mount Mercy University), Stuart Field (NJCAA – Weatherford College), Vikings Softball Complex (Cal JC – Long Beach City College), Clark College Softball Complex (NWAC – Clark College) and Pioneer Field (Lehi High School).
This award, made possible by NFCA Official Sponsor Netting Professionals, recognizes top fields/stadiums in the nation for their flawless grounds maintenance and exceptional playing surfaces. These locations are selected by the NFCA Awards Committee for NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Cal JC, NWAC, and High School.
The winners were nominated by NFCA member coaches and selected by a panel of their peers on the NFCA Awards Committee. They will be recognized on Dec. 7 during the NFCA Convention's annual Awards Brunch.
NCAA Division I
One of the most iconic venues in collegiate softball, Hillenbrand Stadium, has been home to the Arizona Wildcats for over 30 years, seeing a complete stadium renovation prior to the 2019 season. With close to 3,000 passionate fans every night, Hillenbrand has hosted 22 NCAA Regionals and eight Super Regionals. Highlighting the 2019 renovation, was full infield and club-level seating, a press box makeover, an alumni deck with 360 degrees of incredible views and new larger dugouts. The incredible work of the grounds crew (Zach Redding, Darren Criswell), keeps the all-natural playing surface top-notch and is a major reason why the recently-named Mike Candrea Field is world-renowned.
NCAA Division II
Constructed in 1988, Cougar Field is a top-quality all-natural field that also features a 6,000-square-foot turf performance facility called the Cougar Cave that houses six multi-use cages and three pitching areas . Over the years, it has seen significant upgrades including an underground drainage system in 2015, the previously mentioned Cougar Cave in 2017 and a video scoreboard in 2020, with new stadium seating, press box and backstop coming soon. Maintained by head coach Brad Huskisson and his assistant coaches, it has a storied history which includes hosting practices for the Gold-medal winning 1996 Olympic Team.
NCAA Division III
McLeod Field opened in 2011 following a major facelift in which it converted its baseball park into a softball facility. Thirteen years later, the facility was completely renovated from a natural playing surface to artificial turf with brand-new dugouts and a padded outfield wall featuring a grass berm for open viewing area in left-center field. Additionally, it has fully-turfed bullpens on each side, while each dugout accommodates student-athletes with restrooms, heaters, misting fans, ice machines and water-filling stations.
NAIA
Constructed in 2017 as part of the 22-acre Robert W. Plater Athletic Complex, Busse Field, the host of four, soon to be five, Heart of America Softball Championships, is the home of Mount Mercy softball. In a recent poll amongst the 13 conference coaches, Busse Field was voted their top choice and feedback from those coaches state that not only the facility, but the hospitality is some of the best they have seen across the country. It features stadium seating, bullpens on both sides, batting cages, sunken dugouts and a beautiful plaza that looks down on the playing field to go along with top-rated Musco lighting, live streaming capabilities with two active cameras, a two-sided press box and sound system.
NJCAA
Stuart Field, built in 2012, is considered one of the top fields in NJCAA. In 2020, the field was renovated which included the installation of FieldTurf. It also features lights, a dedicated field house/locker room attached to the home dugouts and covered, lighted and turfed batting cages. It has been host to the Region 5 North Regional Tournament in 2019 and 2022.
Cal JC
A state-of-the-art turf facility, Vikings Softball Complex is home to the Long Beach City College softball program. It features home and away team rooms, covered and lighted double-lane batting cages on home and visitor sides and a coaches office.
NWAC
Clark College softball complex, located in Vancouver, Wash., features an all-natural playing surface with a sand, silt and clay infield and grass outfield. Associate head coach Bryan Blehman and head coach Ciera Jones go above and beyond to create a top-quality environment that NWAC athletes love to play on. Despite the challenges of a field (built in 2014) in the Pacific Northwest, the coaching staff’s passion and commitment results in a meticulously-maintained field.
High School
Pioneer Field, with an all-natural playing surface, has been home to Lehi High School softball since 2020. Considered one of the top all-natural high school fields in Utah, it is known for its fan-friendly environment and features an incredible view from the base of the Wasatch Mountains. It includes a 2023 Netting Professionals windscreen on the outfield fence to go along with backstop netting, enclosed dugouts, storage garages on each dugout, two batting cages and a locker room attached to the home dugout.
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its extensive awards and scholarships program, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from NFCA podcasts to a comprehensive drills database, to in-person events and a National Convention.
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Netting Professionals/NFCA Softball Field of the Year Award
