By Mark Rountree Commentary
It’s the day after Christmas, but there is another gift to be opened.
The Northern Oklahoma College Enid baseball program has a present for its players and the Enid baseball community.
After two years of fundraising, construction is well under way on an indoor practice facility at NOC Enid.
Construction crews have been erecting support beams and the outer shell for the facility, which will be used by the NOC Enid baseball program, as well as baseball and softball teams in the community.
The facility is located behind the center field fence at Failing Park on the NOC Enid campus.
NOC Enid assistant baseball coach Jeremy Hise said construction will take 23 working days. After the initial construction, the building will be wired for electricity and turf will be installed.
He said the facility could be ready for workouts by the middle of January.
The facility will be 120 feet long by 120 feet wide and stand 36 feet high in the middle. It will include several pitching and hitting stations, and is big enough to have a full-fledged infield workout.
For years, the Jets have held cold-weather workouts in the old gym at the Mabee Center, which served the purpose but was a little cramped. That will change when they move into the new, spacious facility.
The project has been in the works for more than two years. A fundraising effort raised about $91,000. Much of the material and labor has been donated.
Hise said plans are for the facility to be open to the public on a reserved basis four nights per week.
“This is a community college, and we want the community to use it,’’ said Hise.
For many youth teams, decent practice fields in Enid are at a premium. Teams won’t get to practice there every night, but they could reserve space perhaps once a week.
Stay tuned for specific workout times and schedules.
Rountree is the sports editor of the News & Eagle.
