Groundbreaking Saturday for Baseball/Softball Complex

Official groundbreaking for BYU's new baseball/softball complex will take place this Saturday (May 13) at noon prior to the final game of the baseball season with conference champion New Mexico.

Free admission to the game and free food beginning at 11:30 a.m., accompany the groundbreaking event which features key donors including Mr. And Mrs. Larry Miller and Mr. And Mrs. Sy Kimball.

The event will be emceed by KSL sportscaster Greg Wrubell. Former major league player and Cougar star Dane Iorg along with other BYU dignitaries will also participate. The groundbreaking with a backhoe and shovels will take place inside the current Cougar diamond.

The free food is being provided by Hogi Yogi, BYU Food Services and Coca Cola.

Last February it was announced the new complex will be called Miller Park in honor of Larry H. and Gail Miller, who made a significant financial contribution toward the facility. The baseball field will be named Larry H. Miller Field, and the softball field will be named Gail Miller Field.

Miller Park will feature back-to-back baseball and softball stadiums covered by a tensile-fabric structure roof, similar to the roof on the Denver airport. The stadium will also feature lights, a press box, locker rooms, coaches offices, equipment and training rooms and new scoreboards.

Construction on the facility began in January when crews demolished the outfield fence, which was replaced by a new eight-foot wall located 20 feet further from home plate. Construction is expected to be completed by the next home season when softball and baseball begin play by the third week of March. At the groundbreaking fans can obtain information towards purchasing season tickets for the 2001 softball and baseball seasons.