New-look KHS softball stadium ready for spring

Dec. 9—It's taken years, but Kokomo High School's softball stadium is complete. Well, almost. Crews were still wrapping up a few minor work items, as of last week. But by and large, the multi-million-dollar project is ready for game day. And there will be plenty of them in the coming years. The Tribune was granted a tour of the stadium last week where Kokomo School Corporation officials showed off the new-look facility. Perhaps the most important addition made in the multi-year improvement project was the addition of two batting tunnels, or cages, along the first base side of the stadium. These two tunnels are indoors, allowing for batting practice no matter the weather. One of the cages is on the first floor, the other is on the second floor of the facility. Windows welcome in natural light and overlook the parking lot of the high school. The cages can be configured in multiple ways, including splitting them in half and using them for more team-oriented practices. KHS softball coach Mike Susong is loving it. "It's really nice from a coaching perspective, because you can get everything you need to get done here at the facility," he said.

Costs associated with the stadium renovation are part of more than $21 million worth of site improvements at the high school. Other projects included resurfacing the KHS parking lot, a new secure entrance at the Kokomo Area Career Center and upgrades to Walter Cross Field. These projects started in 2019. The costs were spread out over those four years, as well. One of the last big pieces for the softball stadium was completed this fall as turf was installed, replacing the natural surface. Multiple batting cages and a softball field that can be practiced on so long as it is cleared of snow means the softball team, and even the baseball team, are not bound to when a gym is available. This is one of the major pluses for Kokomo school folks. "It's more convenient for our kids," Superintendent Mike Sargent said. "Gym space is tough to come by." "I don't have to practice from 7 to 9 (p.m.)," Susong added.

Having one less team to schedule should make it easier to accommodate other groups at Kokomo High School that need gym time, such as band and color guard. Batting cages were part of the first phase of upgrades at the stadium, along with additional locker rooms, storage space and coaches' offices. There are also athletic training rooms and an umpire room that leads directly to the field. A new press box, concession stand and ticket booth were later additions. The new press box replaced the old one that was shared between softball and the JV baseball field. The new one has a camera well for media members. The press box can seat about two dozen people.

The exterior of the stadium is heavy on brickwork. Ropes dangle down from the ceiling in the press box. They'll ring loud when a player hits one over the fence. "I think it's just a vintage feel," said Nick Sale, KHS athletic director. "I think it'll be neat for someone when they hit a home run." Revamped dugouts and spectator seating make the high school stadium more akin to what one might find on a college campus. The stadium can seat about 1,000 people. There is space beyond the outfield fence for temporary bleachers, if need be. Combine that, along with all the other new features, and Kokomo High School is now a candidate to host tournament softball games. They will host a sectional in the spring. "We hadn't really been considered for that before," Sale said. "It'll be cool to see large crowds out here in the springtime."

A new LED video scoreboard can display headshots of players, upping the production value of a tournament game or even a chilly game played in early April. "It just adds another element to the games," Sale said. It's taken nearly five years for the renovations to be complete. The status of the softball stadium — mainly, what took so long — has been a popular question in the Kokomo community. The simple answer was there were delays, plenty of them. There was the pandemic, which halted work. "It fell at a weird time," Sale said. "You literally had groups of people gone for weeks, months on end." High demand for construction workers and materials caused further delays once work picked back up. Materials like concrete and steel were on backorder, creating standstills for certain aspects of the project. For example, concrete was needed for the ticket booth base. It could not be built without it, so the materials for the ticket booth sat on site until concrete could be obtained. Ongoing state road projects also impacted getting concrete. "You had to be patient through the process," Sale said.

It's taken years, but Kokomo High School's softball stadium is complete.

Well, almost. Crews were still wrapping up a few minor work items, as of last week.

But by and large, the multi-million-dollar project is ready for game day. And there will be plenty of them in the coming years.

The Tribune was granted a tour of the stadium last week where Kokomo School Corporation officials showed off the new-look facility.

Perhaps the most important addition made in the multi-year improvement project was the addition of two batting tunnels, or cages, along the first base side of the stadium.

These two tunnels are indoors, allowing for batting practice no matter the weather. One of the cages is on the first floor, the other is on the second floor of the facility. Windows welcome in natural light and overlook the parking lot of the high school.

The cages can be configured in multiple ways, including splitting them in half and using them for more team-oriented practices.

KHS softball coach Mike Susong is loving it.

"It's really nice from a coaching perspective, because you can get everything you need to get done here at the facility," he said.

Costs associated with the stadium renovation are part of more than $21 million worth of site improvements at the high school. Other projects included resurfacing the KHS parking lot, a new secure entrance at the Kokomo Area Career Center and upgrades to Walter Cross Field.

These projects started in 2019. The costs were spread out over those four years, as well.

One of the last big pieces for the softball stadium was completed this fall as turf was installed, replacing the natural surface.

Multiple batting cages and a softball field that can be practiced on so long as it is cleared of snow means the softball team, and even the baseball team, are not bound to when a gym is available. This is one of the major pluses for Kokomo school folks.

"It's more convenient for our kids," Superintendent Mike Sargent said. "Gym space is tough to come by."

"I don't have to practice from 7 to 9 (p.m.)," Susong added.

Having one less team to schedule should make it easier to accommodate other groups at Kokomo High School that need gym time, such as band and color guard.

Batting cages were part of the first phase of upgrades at the stadium, along with additional locker rooms, storage space and coaches' offices. There are also athletic training rooms and an umpire room that leads directly to the field.

A new press box, concession stand and ticket booth were later additions.

The new press box replaced the old one that was shared between softball and the JV baseball field. The new one has a camera well for media members. The press box can seat about two dozen people.

The exterior of the stadium is heavy on brickwork. Ropes dangle down from the ceiling in the press box. They'll ring loud when a player hits one over the fence.

"I think it's just a vintage feel," said Nick Sale, KHS athletic director. "I think it'll be neat for someone when they hit a home run."

Revamped dugouts and spectator seating make the high school stadium more akin to what one might find on a college campus. The stadium can seat about 1,000 people. There is space beyond the outfield fence for temporary bleachers, if need be.

Combine that, along with all the other new features, and Kokomo High School is now a candidate to host tournament softball games. They will host a sectional in the spring.

"We hadn't really been considered for that before," Sale said. "It'll be cool to see large crowds out here in the springtime."

A new LED video scoreboard can display headshots of players, upping the production value of a tournament game or even a chilly game played in early April.

"It just adds another element to the games," Sale said.

It's taken nearly five years for the renovations to be complete. The status of the softball stadium — mainly, what took so long — has been a popular question in the Kokomo community.

The simple answer was there were delays, plenty of them.

There was the pandemic, which halted work.

"It fell at a weird time," Sale said. "You literally had groups of people gone for weeks, months on end."

High demand for construction workers and materials caused further delays once work picked back up.

Materials like concrete and steel were on backorder, creating standstills for certain aspects of the project.

For example, concrete was needed for the ticket booth base. It could not be built without it, so the materials for the ticket booth sat on site until concrete could be obtained. Ongoing state road projects also impacted getting concrete.

"You had to be patient through the process," Sale said.

Spencer Durham can be reached at 765-454-8598, by email at spencer.durham@kokomotribune.com or on Twitter at @Durham_KT.

Spencer Durham can be reached at 765-454-8598, by email at spencer.durham@kokomotribune.com or on Twitter at @Durham_KT.