ICC announces improvement plan for Cresap Field
“These improvements to our baseball facilities will help us match the nationally-recognized program that Coach [Rick] Collier and his staff have built over the past two decades,” said ICC Athletic Director Dr. Chad Case. “We look forward to a strong finish to the season before getting the new upgrades started.”
FULTON, Miss. – Nestled near the banks of the beautiful Tenn-Tom Waterway, Roy Cresap Field has long been one of the most scenic and iconic locations in NJCAA baseball. Now this historic venue is about to get even better thanks to a four-phase improvement plan announced by Itawamba Community College on Thursday.
Phase 1 of the improvement project will include a new field, new dugouts and backstop. The field will be laser graded with artificial turf installed in the foul areas, surrounding home plate and the base paths from home plate to first base and third base to home plate.
PryorMorrow Architects designed Phase 1 of the project, and Stewart Environmental Construction is the contractor. Phase 1 of the project, which is set to begin at the end of the 2024 season, is expected to be completed by January 2025.
Phase 2 will focus on improvements to the grandstand area. Plans currently include new stadium seating, both individual chairbacks and bench back, canopy coverage for the grandstand seating area, two party decks and new press box space. The phase may also include upgrades to concessions and restrooms. No timeline has been set for the second phase of the project.
"These improvements to our baseball facilities will help us match the nationally-recognized program that Coach [Rick] Collier and his staff have built over the past two decades," said ICC Athletic Director Dr. Chad Case. "We look forward to a strong finish to the season before getting the new upgrades started."
The final two phases are currently in the discussion and planning processes.
Coach Collier has enjoyed a very successful run in his 22 seasons as head coach at ICC. The Indians have won eight North Division championships, three Conference championships, two Region championships and finished fifth in the 2003 NJCAA World Series. With 673 wins, Collier, who is the winningest baseball coach in the history of the ICC baseball program, has been named Conference Coach of the Year three times while earning Region and District II Coach of the Year once.
Itawamba Community College's dedication to be the best continues through various improvement projects both on the Fulton and Tupelo campuses and at the Belden Center. After the recent addition of Magnolia Hall, the college is nearing completion on a new softball and tennis complex, upgraded Student Activities Center, Monroe Hall single occupancy renovations, soccer complex, renovations to the football field house with many more planned in the coming years, including the Connection Center with Chick-Fil-A.
"The support of our alumni, families and friends has made a substantial impact on our ability to provide the best opportunities and championship-level experiences for our students and student-athletes," said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. "We are excited to get this project started while continue other improvement projects across our three locations to keep improving the future of Itawamba Community College."
Learn how you can contribute to the upgrades to Cresap Field and other projects at ICC by emailing Michael Upton, Director of Advancement, at maupton@iccms.edu.
