Ball State board approves baseball, softball clubhouse projects
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The Ball State University board of trustees on Friday approved a budget for the $8.8 million construction of new clubhouses for the baseball and softball teams.
Each clubhouse of about 6,000 square feet will be adjacent to their respective home dugouts at Shebek Stadium and the Ball State Softball Stadium, the university said. Each will feature locker rooms, meeting areas, athlete lounges, equipment and physical therapy rooms, and a space for satellite training.
The baseball and softball teams now use locker facilities at Worthen Arena.
“Today is a great day for Ball State softball and baseball as we provide these two successful programs with a competition site venue for their respective clubhouses,” Athletic Director Jeff Mitchell said in a news release. “This project will help softball and baseball enjoy sustainable success.”
Construction of the new clubhouses is funded through a combination of university reserves and philanthropic support, including a $5 million gift from Ball State graduates Michael and Katherine Shebek. Michael Shebek, a former pitcher for the Cardinals and a 1987 draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles, is the CEO of Automatic Pool Covers and Cover Care.
The university in February renamed the baseball stadium as Shebek Stadium.
Construction of the clubhouses is expected to begin in the fall and be completed the following summer. The architectural design work is being led by MSA Design of Cincinnati.
The board is expected to approve final design plans at a later date.