After 21 years of history on the diamond, Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, home to Florida’s softball program, will have a whole new look for the 2019 season.
The concourse will undergo renovations this summer on an expected $11 million budget, which was funded through donations, bond proceeds and UAA investment earnings.
“It’s a huge game changer,” junior left fielder Amanda Lorenz said. “I’m really thankful to our athletic department that sees that and wants to put money into a girl’s sport like that.”
Lorenz was quick to credit trailblazers like Ali Gardiner, class of 2009; Francesca Enea, class of 2010; and Kelsey Bruder, class of 2012, who set the standards for Florida’s softball program to grow the way it has over the past decade.
“They really laid out the foundation,” she said. “It’s all of them that put in the work, too.”
The stadium was last renovated in 2011 when the team added new batting cages, according to coach Tim Walton said.
Now, the concourse will have major upgrades that include an elevated press box, shade structures for fans seating areas, new locker rooms, a team lounge, a film room, coaches offices, a conference room, bullpens, an increased fan capacity of approximately 2,800 seats and a 360-degree open concourse.
The team is excited, including this year’s senior class who will miss out on the stadium enhancements that won’t be ready until the 2019 season.
“I was actually talking about cutting my hair off and getting re-committed,” senior Aleshia Ocasio said jokingly.
The utility player said if she had the chance, she would re-commit as a catcher. Ironically, it’s one of the few positions Ocasio has yet to play throughout her time with the Gators.
“I’m excited to come back,” she added.
However, Ocasio wasn’t the only one that wanted to re-commit.
Outfielder Justine McLean, class of 2017, tweeted at Walton on Friday asking to get recruited all over again, quoting a tweet from the team’s account that had pictures of the planned stadium renovations.
“I think that’s the hard part as a player,” he said. “You always feel like the teams after you got it better than you had it.”
He emphasized the importance of being a pioneer and foundation layer for a program like Florida softball.
“Every year we’ve really improved our program, and now you’re not just improving your program, but you’re improving the brand and the fans’ experience,” Walton said.
The 13-year coach was particularly excited to be included in the planning aspects of the renovations.
Walton said he was given the opportunity to sit in a room with the architects, construction crew, operations staff and engineers to give them some input on things he sees from a coach’s perspective. It was the first time he’s ever been included in such a process.
“It’s been a fun process so far even though we haven’t broken ground yet,” he said. “Just to be able to see the ideas on paper kind of come to light a little bit and see the growth of where we started and where we’re at now.”
Even more so, Walton was most thrilled about having offices on site, saying it will improve relationships with the players.
“We’re going to be more available,” he said. “They (the players) can come in and have conversations you don’t script, and I think that’s something most people take for granted.”
The renovations are just a couple of months away, but for now, the team will have to cherish its last season in the old stadium.
The Gators (28-4) are scheduled to take on Hampton today at 10 a.m. and Jacksonville at noon in a doubleheader. They will face Pirates and Dolphins again on Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., respectively.
Follow Mari Faiello on Twitter @faiello_mari and contact her at mfaiello@alligator.org.
Coach Tim Walton talked about the excitement surrounding the future upgrades to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. “It’s been a fun process so far even though we haven’t broken ground yet,” he said.
