BB&T Corporation, one of the nation's largest financial services holding companies, has made a $500,000 gift to complete Hunt Softball Park.
ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ announced Dec. 15 that BB&T Corporation, one of the largest financial services holding companies in the nation, has made a $500,000 gift to complete fundraising for Hunt Softball Park, which opens on campus in January. In recognition of the gift, ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ trustees have approved the naming of BB&T Field.
“The generous support of BB&T will allow us to finish the work on one of the nation’s finest NCAA Division I softball facilities,” said ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ President Leo M. Lambert. “Hunt Softball Park, including BB&T Field, will position ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ student-athletes to achieve higher levels of excellence in competition. We are pleased to make this important investment in support of our softball program, providing another outstanding facility in ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s North Athletics Complex.”
“As part of our mission, BB&T strives to make the communities in which we work better places to live and we are proud to support ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ,” said BB&T City Executive Bill Gomory. “We are confident this facility will help ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ student-athletes in their efforts to achieve success.”
BB&T Field features natural turf outfield, a synthetic turf infield apron and a high-tech clay infield with optimal drainage, allowing games to be played within minutes of a rainstorm. This is the same system in place at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s Latham Park for baseball.
Phase I of Hunt Softball Park is scheduled for completion Jan. 1, with the first games scheduled in February. The park includes brick grandstands with seating for 311 fans and a spacious press box; concourse and concessions area; two batting cages and a bullpen on the home side; and a batting cage and bullpen on the visitors side.
Work will begin soon on a second phase of the project, providing a field house that will include a locker room, team lounge, coaches’ offices and training facilities.
ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s successful softball program captured its first Southern Conference Tournament Championship in 2010 along with its first NCAA tournament bid. That title was the first for an ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ women’s athletics team in the Southern Conference.
Hunt Softball Park is named for Vicky and Sam Hunt of Burlington, N.C., who gave lead gifts of more than $1.25 million for the project. Vicky Hunt is an ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ trustee and Sam is a local business leader and a softball fan.
“ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ is first class in every respect and this new facility fills a need on campus,” said Sam Hunt. “This is just another step forward for ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ and we are proud to be able to help. I look forward to attending games and watching the action.”
“When you scan the names of alumni, parents and friends who have named facilities in our athletics complex, you get a great sense of the commitment our community has for ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ,” said Director of Athletics Dave Blank. “We would not be where we are today on this project without Sam and Vicky Hunt, and to have BB&T join our efforts is an honor.”