DAVIDSON, N.C. -- The Davidson Wildcats dedicated their newly-renovated baseball field, formerly Wildcat Park and now Wilson Field on March 19, 2005, exactly 38 years after the first game was played at that location.

Wilson Field was so named in honor of T. Henry Wilson, Jr. ' 51, a former baseball and football player at the college. The facelift to the ball park included a new infield surface, bleachers, press box, concession stand and bathroom, as well as landscaping and fencing around the facility. The project would not have been possible without the generous support of the Wilson family.

The 1.35M dollar renovation was completed in the fall of 2004, just in time for the Wildcats to open their fall season and get accustomed to their new digs.

The Cat’s seem to like their new-look home, as they played to an 18-11 home record this season. They also carried an impressive 11-3 record in non-conference home games, winning their last ten in a row, running over A.C.C. foes Duke and Wake Forest in the process.

Captain Jay Heafner commented on the importance of the renovation to the team’s morale. “The new field added excitement to our clubhouse.   It was a great feeling to know that people not only directly in Davidson, North Carolina, but also folks supporting the programs elsewhere were so concerned with our athletics.”

The excitement wasn’t slow-building either, as Junior second-baseman Ronnie Shore belted the very first pitch thrown to a Wildcat batter at Wilson Field high over the left field fence. The home run was the first of his career.

###