ROCKINGHAM — Batters will have a new target to try and clear when they dig in at the plate in Raider Stadium.
The Richmond Senior High School baseball team is the latest program on campus to get a major upgrade to its facilities, as ground has been broken on a new indoor hitting complex.
Approved by the Richmond County Board of Education in its June 29 meeting, the decision to build an indoor hitting and pitching facility for the Raiders came nearly two months after a similar project was granted for the softball program.
“We pushed for a building of our own when the girls’ building was approved,” Rob Ransom, Richmond’s head baseball coach and athletic director, said. “There was talk of it then and the Board of Education showed us a lot of support — so we just got it done.
“We’re excited to be getting the building,” he added. “It’s a busy time for us right now, there’s a lot of work being done on campus.”
The expected cost of the steel and metal structure is approximately $90,800. The BOE agreed to put forth $50,000 to the project.
The remaining part of the funding is being pulled from private donations, the Booster Club, as well as some fundraiser money the baseball program has raised over the last couple of seasons.
Jean Way, who was instrumental in helping secure grant money for the Lady Raiders’ building, is also helping with the baseball team’s project. She said it’s a “group effort,” as she and G.R. Kindley are working together to make it happen.
“We are turning up every stump,” Way said. “We’ll get the money for the team and have them outfitted with what they need.”
Construction on the indoor hitting facility is in its early stages. Southern Builders, Inc. has been hired to construct the steel-framed building, the same Rockingham-based company that built the Lady Raiders’ complex over the summer.
Adding some “character” to Raider Stadium, the hitting facility will also double as part of the field’s left-field wall. Starting in the left field corner, the building will run 80 feet along the fence line, and will be 40 feet wide and 14 feet tall.
Jokingly calling it the “Green Monster,” Ransom said the decision to make it a part of the outfield wall was based on the limited space for construction. There is the possibility that the building will cut slightly into the playing field.
“Weather has played a big role in spring practice,” Ransom explained of the building’s need. “The team can’t hit if it doesn’t have an indoor facility, and we’ve fallen behind other schools. We’ve been fortunate to use off-campus facilities in the past, but now was the right time to build our own building.
“Long term, this will help our program because more guys will get more reps,” he added. “Baseball is a repetition sport and anytime you can do that, it’s a tremendous help.”
Depending on the amount of grant money the program receives, Ransom said, will determine what features the facility will have. He’s hoping to be able to put in astroturf flooring, similar to that in the softball team’s building.
“I envision having a batting tunnel running down each side, with a pitching tunnel in the middle,” Ransom explained. “We can split the batting cages in half to double up access and have four hitting areas.
“There will be room for mounds to be put in for bullpens,” he added. “And I would like to have a tee hitting station at the end of the tunnels.”
The current outdoor bullpens, along with the outdoor batting cage along the first base line, will still be used by the team. Ransom said “there can never be enough options” for players to use. He’s also considering switching the home dugout to the third base side, but hasn’t made a final decision.
Ransom anticipates the construction phase to be completed by Thanksgiving and said the team will use the structure as soon as the indoor amenities are installed.
