HOWARD LAKE FIELD

Howard Lake Field, constructed in 1980, is one of the finest community college complexes in the state of Alabama. The field’s capacity of 350 includes bleacher-style seating, picnic seating, and a seating area for fans that wish to bring their own chairs. The complex continues to progress with recent improvements including a new backstop, new irrigation system, a new spectator deck overlooking the field adjacent to the pressbox, new batting cages, a new warning track, a new state-of-the-art sound system, new storage shed, new drinking fountains for the home and visitor dugouts, revamped home and visitor bullpens, fresh paint on the entire complex, and newly graded and re-sod playing surface. Howard Lake Field also houses a roomy press box, concession stand, storage room, and men and women’s restrooms, which are all located at the rear of the third base dugout.

Arguably, the best playing surface in the ACCC, Howard Lake Field is constructed of Tifton-Bermuda Sod, which the Pirates play on during the fall season. However, each November, Howard Lake Field is overseeded with Kelley Premium Turf Blend Ryegrass to maintain a plush green, checkerboard pattern for the spring season. The field, which typically plays fast, is cut at a 5/8 inch cutting height by a Jacobsen 84 inch reel-type mower. The infield skin consists of a deep base of Turface brand “infield mix”, which is actually a clay, sand, silt and Turface infield conditioner mix. However, the top two inches of the infield skin is Turface MVP infield conditioner, which is tilled into the base to give Howard Lake a dark and light brown contrast against the bright green grass. Howard Lake Field’s grass and skin are manicured daily in order to maintain a safe, consistent, and true playing surface.

Howard Lake Field has been the host of many historic Chattahoochee Valley baseball moments. Several of legendary baseball coach B. R. Johnson’s milestone wins occurred at Howard Lake Field on his way to 635 career victories. Howard Lake Field hosted a school record 24 home victories en route to the Pirates record-breaking 41 wins during the 2007 season. There have been eleven total no-hitters thrown at Howard Lake Field, the latest coming on February 15, 2005 by Colby Elrod of Douglasville, Georgia in a 10-0 win over Faulkner University. Howard Lake Field has also been the home of several current and former Major League Baseball players, which include pitcher Danny Cox (St. Louis Cardinals), catcher Randy Hunt (St. Louis Cardinals), pitcher Tim Hudson (Atlanta Braves), and pitcher Chuck James (Atlanta Braves), not to mention numerous draft picks who had successful minor league careers; the latest coming from the class of 2007, in outfielders Kuyaunnis Miles (Atlanta Braves, 21st round), and K.D. Kang (Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 15th round).

KEY HALL

Key Hall, named after former CVCC basketball coach and ACCC Hall of Fame member, Doug Key, is a state-of-the-art athletic facility that was erected in 1990. Key Hall’s upper level contains an indoor athletic arena, which enables the Pirate baseball team to practice indoors when inclement weather occurs. Key Hall houses a spacious locker room, which includes shower, bathroom, and laundry facilities, a whirlpool, players lounge, and dressing areas for players and coaches. Additionally, Key Hall includes the head and assistant baseball coaches’ offices and conference rooms for team meetings and film review.

The lower level of Key Hall contains a newly renovated state-of-the-art weight training facility. Updated in October 2000, the weight room contains the newest, most modern pieces of strength training equipment. The Pirate weight training facility is unsurpassed in serving the strength and conditioning needs of the baseball team’s student-athletes.