Carter Memorial Stadium

Williams Field at Carter Memorial Stadium is a baseball venue on the campus of Radford University in Radford, Virginia, United States. It is home to the Radford Highlanders of the NCAA Division I Big South Conference. The field opened in 1986 and underwent extensive renovations in 2011. Its capacity is 800 spectators, with a grass area down the left field line allowing for overflow crowds.^[1]

Williams Field at Carter Memorial Stadium

Former names	Radford Baseball Field (1986-2011) Radford Baseball Stadium (2011-2017)
Location	University Drive, Radford, Virginia, United States
Coordinates	37°08′13″N 80°32′21″W / 37.136911°N 80.539165°W / 37.136911; -80.539165
Owner	Radford University
Operator	Radford University
Capacity	800 (seated), plus grass berm down left field line
Record attendance	1,373 (April 19, 2011)
Field size	Left field: 330 ft Left center field: 370 ft Center field: 400 ft Right center field: 370 ft Right field: 330 ft
Surface	Tuckahoe bluegrass
Scoreboard	Daktronics Videoboard with attached Electronic Scoreboard
Construction
Opened	1986
Renovated	2009, 2011
Construction cost	USD$800,000 (2011 renovations)
Project manager	Carolina Green Corp. Athletic Field Construction (2009 field facelift)
General contractor	Branch & Associates (2011 renovations)
Tenants
Radford Highlanders baseball (1986-present)

Other uses of the stadium include baseball camps^[2] and high school baseball tournaments.^[3]

History

The facility opened in 1986.^[1] In July 2007, Joe Raccuia assumed control of the program with plans for facility upgrades.^[4]

Renovations beginning in 2008 led to reconstruction of the field.^[1] In 2008, a new backstop was installed. Dugouts were enlarged and the playing surface improved in 2009.^[5]

In 2011, the venue's name was changed from Radford Baseball Field to Radford Baseball Stadium, due to major renovations.^[1] Branch and Associates, Inc. led a project to rebuild the stadium.^[6] A seating structure with 800 chair-backed seats was added, in addition to a new concourse, press box, and PA system. New stadium lighting allowed night games to be played.^[1] The construction project, which cost $800,000, was the first in Radford athletics history to use only private funding.^[7]

Construction was completed during the 2011 season. The new stadium was officially opened for the program's first-ever home night game, a sold-out crowd on April 8, 2011 against VMI.^[8][9][10] Radford set its attendance record just days later when an over-capacity crowd of 1,373 witnessed the top ranked Virginia Cavaliers play the Highlanders.^[11]

The venue changed names to Williams Field at Carter Memorial Stadium in 2017. ^[12]

See also

• List of NCAA Division I baseball venues

References

1. . RU Highlanders. Archived from the original on 2011-09-11. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
2. . College Baseball Camps. Archived from the original on 2012-03-21. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
3. . Virginia High School League. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
4. . RU Highlanders. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
5. Altizer, Chuck (December 10, 2010). . The Roanoke Times Online. Archived from the original on 2012-10-10. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
6. . News. Branch & Associates, Inc. April 22, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-09-11. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
7. Halberg, Matt (February 8, 2011). . The Tartan. Radford University. Archived from the original on 2011-10-04.
8. . RU Highlanders. March 30, 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-03-29. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
9. . RU Highlanders. April 8, 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
10. . RU Highlanders. April 7, 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-03-29. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
11. "NO. 1 VIRGINIA BEATS RADFORD BASEBALL 12-0". Radford University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
12. "Radford Baseball to Hold Naming Ceremony April 29". Radford Athletics. Retrieved 21 April 2017.

External links

• April 8, 2011, Stadium Opener Photo Gallery at RU Highlanders