The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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November 22, 2009

Stadium nearing completion

By Gary Fauber

Blessed with a recent burst of unseasonably warm weather, work on the Linda K. Epling Stadium is nearing completion.

The playing surface on the Ragland Road facility was placed in September, and baseball has already been played there.

There is still work to be done, but everything should be finished in more than enough time for baseball season in the spring.

“We’re shooting for February,” said Doug Epling, the stadium’s proprietor.

Dugouts and a blue scoreboard in left field bearing the stadium’s name have been complete for some time, and light standards were installed two weeks ago. That means the field itself is in complete playing condition, as was targeted back in May.

The pleasant weather that recently graced the area made it easy for work to be done.

“We have been blessed by that,” Epling said. “We have had some really good luck.”

Existing work will focus on the press box and concession stands. The roofs will be placed on those structures so workers can operate away from the conditions once the true winter weather hits.

Bleachers and chairback seating will arrive in January and should take about two weeks to install, Epling said. He added that electrical service has been paid for.

“We’re waiting on Appalachian Power to put in the transformer and run the underground power,” Epling said.

Also, the land outside the stadium will soon be paved for parking.

Behind the backstop and seating will be a 154-foot two-level building. The first floor will contain home and visiting clubhouses and a concession area. On the upper level will be the press box, a separate box for radio and another section for VIP seating.

There will also be offices and a two-bedroom apartment.

Field dimensions will be 325 feet down the lines, 375 to the alleys and 400 to dead center field.

Seating capacity can be extended to at least 3,000 if needed.

— E-mail: gfauber@

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