Al Worthington Stadium
Encyclopedia
Al Worthington Stadium is a baseball
venue
on the campus of Liberty University
in Lynchburg
, Virginia
, USA
. It is home to the Liberty Flames
of the Division I Big South Conference
. Opened in 1979, the facility is named for former Liberty baseball coach and athletic director Al Worthington
. It has a capacity of 2,500 spectators.
A new Liberty baseball venue was announced in August 2011.
, to whom the field would be dedicated in 1986, was at the time Liberty's head coach. On May 3, 1986, the field was dedicated Al Worthington Field.
In 1995, the venue's name was again changed, this time to its current Al Worthington Stadium. The stadium won in 1998 Sports Turf Magazines "Diamond of the Year" award.
Beginning in 1999, the stadium underwent a series of renovations. In that year, a 5,200 ft.² hitting complex was added, located down the left field line. Also in 1999, the infield
was resurfaced with bermuda grass. A new PA system and backstop were installed in 2000. 2003 construction added an indoor hitting facility, luxury boxes, and a clubhouse. Renovations completed in 2008 added stadium lighting and additional seating, which raised capacity by 600-700 people.
With the addition of new lights, Worthington Stadium's first night game was played on March 28, 2008. On the same night, the stadium set a new attendance record of 3,183 spectators. Liberty lost the game to Coastal Carolina
5-3 in 11 innings.
In August 2011, the university announced plans for a new baseball venue. It will be built near Williams Stadium
, the university's football
venue, and will hold 3,000 spectators. The project is projected to cost roughly $5 million. The announcement included plans for Worthington Stadium to become a softball
venue.
. Following a five-team, fourteen-season major league career, Worthington came to Liberty in 1974. As the Flames' baseball coach from 1974 to 1986, Worthington compiled a 343-189-1 record. In each of the last 12 of Worthington's 13 seasons, the program had a winning record.
After being named Liberty's athletic director
in 1983, Worthington continued to coach baseball until 1986. On May 3, 1986, Liberty's baseball field was dedicated to Worthington during his final home game as baseball coach. The Flames defeated Maryland
19-3.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
venue
Baseball field
A baseball field, also called a ball field or a baseball diamond, is the field upon which the game of baseball is played. The terms "baseball field" and "ball field" are also often used as synonyms for ballpark.-Specifications:...
on the campus of Liberty University
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
in Lynchburg
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is home to the Liberty Flames
Liberty Flames
The Liberty University Flames are the athletics teams of Liberty University. The Liberty Flames are a member of the NCAA Division I level in 18 sports...
of the Division I Big South Conference
Big South Conference
The Big South Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I. The conference's football teams are part of the Football Championship Subdivision...
. Opened in 1979, the facility is named for former Liberty baseball coach and athletic director Al Worthington
Al Worthington
Allan Fulton Worthington , nicknamed "Red", is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Giants , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox , Cincinnati Reds and Minnesota Twins . Worthington batted and threw right-handed...
. It has a capacity of 2,500 spectators.
A new Liberty baseball venue was announced in August 2011.
History
The venue opened in 1979 as Liberty Field. Al WorthingtonAl Worthington
Allan Fulton Worthington , nicknamed "Red", is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Giants , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox , Cincinnati Reds and Minnesota Twins . Worthington batted and threw right-handed...
, to whom the field would be dedicated in 1986, was at the time Liberty's head coach. On May 3, 1986, the field was dedicated Al Worthington Field.
In 1995, the venue's name was again changed, this time to its current Al Worthington Stadium. The stadium won in 1998 Sports Turf Magazines "Diamond of the Year" award.
Beginning in 1999, the stadium underwent a series of renovations. In that year, a 5,200 ft.² hitting complex was added, located down the left field line. Also in 1999, the infield
Infield
Infield is a widely used term in sports terminology, its meaning depends on the sport in which it is used.- In baseball :In baseball the baseball diamond plus a region beyond it , has both grass and dirt, in contrast to the more distant, usually grass-covered outfield...
was resurfaced with bermuda grass. A new PA system and backstop were installed in 2000. 2003 construction added an indoor hitting facility, luxury boxes, and a clubhouse. Renovations completed in 2008 added stadium lighting and additional seating, which raised capacity by 600-700 people.
With the addition of new lights, Worthington Stadium's first night game was played on March 28, 2008. On the same night, the stadium set a new attendance record of 3,183 spectators. Liberty lost the game to Coastal Carolina
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers baseball
Coastal Carolina's baseball program has been the university's most consistent program in terms of success. Head Coach Gary Gilmore has led the Chanticleers to eight NCAA Regional appearances and two Super Regional appearances since being hired in 1996. The program has received #1 regional seeds on...
5-3 in 11 innings.
In August 2011, the university announced plans for a new baseball venue. It will be built near Williams Stadium
Williams Stadium
Williams Stadium is a 19,200 seat football stadium located on the campus of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, USA. The stadium was built in 1989 and plays host to Liberty Flames football, which is a part of the NCAA Division I - Football Championship Subdivision . A new field house has...
, the university's football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
venue, and will hold 3,000 spectators. The project is projected to cost roughly $5 million. The announcement included plans for Worthington Stadium to become a softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
venue.
Naming
The venue is named for Al WorthingtonAl Worthington
Allan Fulton Worthington , nicknamed "Red", is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Giants , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox , Cincinnati Reds and Minnesota Twins . Worthington batted and threw right-handed...
. Following a five-team, fourteen-season major league career, Worthington came to Liberty in 1974. As the Flames' baseball coach from 1974 to 1986, Worthington compiled a 343-189-1 record. In each of the last 12 of Worthington's 13 seasons, the program had a winning record.
After being named Liberty's athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
in 1983, Worthington continued to coach baseball until 1986. On May 3, 1986, Liberty's baseball field was dedicated to Worthington during his final home game as baseball coach. The Flames defeated Maryland
Maryland Terrapins
The Maryland Terrapins, commonly referred to as the Terps, consist of 27 men's and women's athletic teams that represent the University of Maryland, College Park in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
19-3.