Woods Field

2008 marks another milestone for East Texas Baptist University's baseball field, as lights have been added to the facility to provide the Tigers with the first opportunity for night-time baseball in the program's history.

The addition of lights, announced in the fall of 2007, was made possible by a gift from longtime ETBU supporter, the late J. Lloyd Woods. The Tigers played their first-ever night baseball game at home on Feb. 8, 2008, against Jarvis Christian College. When the lights came on, the Tigers were in the midst of a 17-4 win.

Mr. Woods was on hand to throw out the first pitch of the first night game, but he passed away nine days later at the age of 91. A moment of silence was held in his honor a day later, when the Tigers hosted the University of Dallas.

The lights will be a great benefit to the baseball program according to ETBU head coach Sam Blackmon. "The ability to schedule practices and night games will allow our student-athletes to have limited class time missed. This in turn allows them to be more productive in the classroom," Blackmon said.

The facility has also received more upgrades since Blackmon was named head coach in the summer of 2006. These upgrades include a remodeling of the Tiger bullpen for this season, as well as additions and improvements to the outdoor batting cage.

In 2005, the backstop and dugouts were torn down and replaced with red brick. The chain-link backstop which had surrounded home plate for decades was replaced by a solid, flexible dark netting which provides safety while also allowing better sight lines for those in attendance.

Woods Field has long been recognized as a hitter-friendly park, and ETBU's offensive numbers in recent years indicate that fact -- the Tigers have ranked consistently among national leaders in runs per game, home runs, batting average and slugging percentage since moving to NCAA Division III status in 1998. The park especially favors right-handed hitters and is a nightmare for southpaw pitchers -- the wall in leftfield sits only 325 feet from home plate. Distance to centerfield is a standard 400 feet, while the rightfield fence gives righthanded pitchers a bit more cushion, sitting 335 feet from the batter's box.

A large inning-by-inning scoreboard towers above the leftfield fence and is surrounded itself by tall East Texas pine trees. The facility includes bleacher seating for up to 300 fans, and there is ample space down both lines for fans to use lawn chairs and blankets from which to watch Tiger baseball on warm spring days in East Texas.

A double batting cage sits on a concrete foundation just behind the Tiger dugout, and the facility is equipped with a two-story press box/concession stand which sits directly behind home plate.

Woods Field's location provides a wide-ranging, scenic view of the ETBU campus, with East Texas' trademark pine trees providing a beautiful picture beyond the walls in left and center field.