13 years have passed since Gadsden State Community College shut down its baseball and softball programs. Two years have passed since the school revived those two programs and now, the Cardinals are carrying that momentum into brand new facilities.

Just this week, Gadsden State held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new $10 million sports complex that both teams will use. The on-campus facility will include:

Entry concourse between fields
Full synthetic turf and bullpens
State-of-the-art LED lighting systems and new scoreboards
Locker rooms and restrooms in the home dugout
A covered facility with three hitting and pitching lanes

Concessions with serving windows for both fields
Multi-stall restrooms for spectators
Elevated bleachers that seat 150
Press boxes
Chairback seating sections behind home plate for each field

Gadsden State Baseball — New $10M facility helps Gadsden State programs continue momentum 1

The facility will be funded with a bond approved in November by the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees. The project is expected to be completed by early 2025.

“We believe this complex is a tremendous recruitment tool for us. We recruit the athletes, who, in turn, encourage friends and family to attend Gadsden State. Expanding sports is beneficial for the College as it promotes school spirit and unity.”
~ Dr. Kathy Murphy, president of Gadsden State

If you build it, they will come

Okay so it may not exactly be in that order but the plans for a new sports complex were certainly a big part in bringing the two programs back after a decade-long absence.

The baseball team returned to the field this season and currently has an 8-22 record under coach and newly-minted athletic director Blake Lewis. The softball team will begin play again next season under coach Ryan Clark.

“I’m beyond excited about our new baseball-softball complex. It’s not just about the nice, new, state-of-the-art facilities. It’s about what it means for our entire student body. This complex isn’t just a place to play. It’s a hub for student life.”
~ Softball catcher Chloe Gattis