West Lincoln High School Softball Field
Beginning with the 1992 softball season, West Lincoln High School moved from WL Optimist Park to its current location at the back of the high school property. Since then, it has been the goal of coaches and administrators to continue to improve the softball facility to ensure that it continues to be a complex of which the softball community can be proud. Originally the field was set up to host fastpitch and slowpitch games, with most of North Carolina still participating in sanctioned slowpitch seasons. As the turn of the century ushered in a new era of only fastpitch, the 2000 season saw the field made smaller by moving home plate towards centerfield. New fencing was brought in and new dugouts were constructed closer to the field. This allowed for more fan area around the backstop; as well as, allowed for the old home dugout to be covered and used as a storage facility for field equipment. The current facility plays host not only to the Lady Rebels of West Lincoln High School, but also the Lady Chiefs of West Lincoln Middle School, both which still only play fastpitch softball.
Between the 2000 and 2012 seasons, both Coach Allen Hoyle and Coach Mia Cooke worked to improve the facility in many ways. One example would be the holly bushes that were planted between the softball field and the outfield wall of the baseball field. These trees now allow for some protection against baseballs as fans enter or leave the softball area. The softball entrance was also completed during this time period, as a concrete walkway was poured to meet ADA requirements for disabled fans. Bathrooms and a concessions building were also added just beyound the rightfield fence as fans enter and leave the facility. Lights were added to the back of the baseball lights in 2004 to make certain that our female athletes were provided the ability to play later games with more fans under the lights. These improvements made tremendous strides for the softball program, and allowed for future renovations to take place that could focus more on the facility itself.
The 2016 season saw Coach Tyler Sain complete a new hitting facility, as 2 batting cages, both 15 feet by 70 feet long were constructed with an additional 6 foot wide ptiching lane just to the outside the cages. This entire surface was given a cement floor, but prior to the 2018 season athletic turf with rubber pellets was purchased to cover the cement in an attempt to allow athletes to hit in the cleats; as well as, to procect the equiptment being used in the cages. This facility has turned out to be a model outdoor hitting facility that is as nice as any high school in the surrounding area. Also during the summer of 2021 a structure was added to the hitting cage to help organize all the equipment used at practice on a daily basis. This building is a 12 foot by 20 foot building that will also house a vehicle which will be used to drag the field before and after each practice.
2018 saw the completion of a pitching bullpen added on the home side of the field. This is a 2-lane bullpen that allows for muliple pitchers and catchers to work during practices or pre-game. A visitors bullpen was added prior to the 2020 season, and is located just inside the right field corner to the right as visitors enter the stadium. With both teams having their own bullpen, West Lincoln High School becomes one of the few schools to have this set up our surrounding area.
The largest single renovation to the facility came during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. This project was named the Softball Renovation Project, and with the help of the Timken Corporation's generous grant, the 3 phase renovation was completed. Phase 1 was to create a dressing room that would allow the young ladies a place to dress and store their personal equipment throughout the season. Lockers were purchased by the alunmi to be used in a fully renovated mobile unit that was purchased from the middle school. This facility also has coaches lockers and a uniform closet that rivals many small colleges in the area. Phase 2 was to replace the original backstop with a 4 foot decorative block wall and an 18 foot high net backstop that would be more fan friendly. The inside of this wall is covered with a red pad that reads "West Lincoln Lady Rebels" and definitely makes a statement to visitors who walk up to the park for the first time. Phase 3 was the addition of a small presbox that would allow a scorekeeper and an announcer to stay dry during inclimate weather that plagues the early part of our spring season. This entire project was completed on time, but due to a Covid shortened 2020 season, WLHS was not able to show the facility off until an open house and alumni game played during the fall of 2021.
After the completion of the 2021 season, the coaching staff made the decision to add a grass halo around the first and third baselines to help with some drainage issues that taking place. This new look gives the field a new feel and compares more to college complexes in its overall appearance. Also added to the appearance of the facility is a new scoreboard that was added after the 2022 campaign. This scorebaord is a 9 inning scoreboard and will allow fans to enjoy their game day experience for years to come.
