Lady Eagle Softball now at home at Tommy McDonald Field
Meridian Community College’s Lady Eagles have a new place to call home plate.
MCC celebrated the opening of the Tommy McDonald Softball Field at Citizens National Bank Sports Complex with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, giving the Lady Eagles Softball Team a new field of their own with players, coaches, college leaders, and community members gathered to mark the start of this next chapter for MCC softball.
Situated at the intersection of Highway 19 and old Highway 11 at College Park, the new sports facility is not only home to MCC’s softball but will also soon be home to the College’s tennis and golf programs.
“This is huge for Meridian, it’s huge for the ladies in the program and the former ladies. It’s going to be a great tool for not only the college but also for the community to grow softball in Meridian and turn us into a championship contender every year,” said Brad Grinstead, Lady Eagles head softball coach.
Grinstead added, “Mississippi softball is growing exponentially, and to have another top-end facility in the country for softball proves how far this sport is coming in the state.”
The Tommy McDonald Softball Field is outfitted with spectator viewing stands, restrooms, a concession stand, a hitting facility for the softball team, and a play area for children. The artificial turf softball field has a high-quality playing surface, and the sports complex shines with the latest-in-technology LED lights.
In addition, softball games are live-streamed, so fans can watch real-time broadcasts of the Lady Eagles Softball action via the internet.
MCC and Citizens National Bank officials, as well as local business and community leaders, originally broke ground on the sports complex in 2022, but delays resulted from skyrocketing construction costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We waited a long time for this,” said MCC President Dr. Tom Huebner during the softball ribbon cutting ceremony. “I knew our students needed this,” he said, explaining that though the College is landlocked, the need for the modern sports venue was there.
“Having the new facility impacts everything. We want to provide the best possible resources for our athletes to be competitive, and this new sports complex can be a place where our student athletes can get the experience they need,” Dr. Huebner said.
“We recognize this isn’t just a softball field; it’s a manifestation of transformation in our community, and I could not be more proud,” Dr. Huebner said.
The field’s namesake, Dr. Tommy McDonald, was grateful and humbled during the ceremony. Dr. McDonald, an alumnus who retired from the College as vice president for operations, said he was proud about the College and its essential role in the community. “It's called community college for a reason. Meridian Community College sends the message of ‘I believe in you and you can do it.’”
Construction of the softball field and its facilities was the initial part of phase one of the project; the tennis facilities are expected to be completed soon, with eight regulation courts and cutting-edge digital scoreboards on each court offering real-time scoring updates. These tech-enhanced features elevate MCC’s tennis program by combining tradition with innovation, creating a premier venue for collegiate competition.
For more information, visit mcceagles.com.