by MICHAEL E. POWELL

The Lady Yetis softball team has a new home field on which they can rack up wins for their alma mater, Cleveland Community College. And to say the least, it's a dandy! It and the baseball field comprise part of the school's sports complex aptly titled the Yeti Athletics Park.

Paula Vess, Communications and Public Relations Coordinator at Cleveland Community College, said recently the college's "...Board of Trustees approved starting athletics in 2019. By fall 2019, a women's softball team had been formed."

Vess continued, "The college held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Yeti Athletics Park in 2021. The project was divided into two phases. Phase 1 was the construction of the baseball field, which was completed in spring 2022. Immediately after completion of Phase 1, Phase 2, construction of the softball field began."

The Lady Yetis are a talented group of young athletes who made it to the Region 10 tournament last season.

Regarding the budget for the park, Ms. Vess said it was $1.1 million and the Foundation Board of Directors allocated $850,000 to the athletics park project. The scoreboard is named for Harold and Ruth Langley, and the home dugout has been named White Investments of Shelby, LLC.

As for the college's athletes, Dr. Andy Gardner, Vice President of Student Affairs and Athletic Director said, "Already, many CCC athletes have been named to the All-Region team for performance in their respective sports. And even more importantly, more than 40 CCC athletes have been named to the All-Region, All-Academic team, meaning they are working as hard in the classroom as they are in their respective sports."

Vess noted the softball team played their first home game on the new field last week, playing a double-header against Belmont Abbey's Lady Crusaders JV team on Thursday, Feb. 9. Vess said the college is to have a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony at noon Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023.

"After the ceremony, the softball team takes on Caldwell Community College in a double-header" she said, adding, "The first game begins at 1 p.m., and the second game is anticipated to begin about 3 p.m."

Additionally, Vess said the Yetis baseball team will also be playing a double-header at home on Saturday. Incidentally, Saturday's games are free.

Cleveland Community College is one of only a few community colleges that have athletics facilities on campus, Vess noted. Head softball coach Ronald Beaver said, "Our athletes are already fortunate to have some amazing facilities including an indoor hitting facility and

weight room. Now, we have the opportunity to play on one of the nicest fields in the region. It's a huge honor."

College President Dr. Jason Hurst said of the new field, "We are so excited to celebrate the completion of our softball field. The support of our governing boards and community partners have been instrumental in helping ensure this facility would be worthy of our Yeti athletes and the fans who come to watch them play."

He continued, "I want to especially thank the Cleveland Community College Foundation Board for their generous financial contribution to this project. The Foundation Board understands what an athletics program means to our college community. We know that an athletics program is about more than just playing ball. These facilities will be a place for our students, their families and friends to gather to build a stronger campus community."

The college is located at 137 S. Post Rd., Shelby, and can be reached by phone at (704) 669-6000, or https://clevelandcc.edu.