The Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute (CCC&TI) Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved the addition of two new sports, men’s baseball and women’s softball. Both sports are scheduled to begin play in Fall 2019, and the hiring process for coaches will begin immediately.
“We have been thinking about this for a couple of years and we are glad to be able to finally make this happen,” said Larry Taylor, Chairman of the CCC&TI Board of Trustees. “Adding baseball and softball will help with enrollment by encouraging additional students to attend CCC&TI.
CCC&TI President Dr. Mark Poarch told the Board of Trustees that offering the additional sports would attract students who might not otherwise enroll at CCC&TI. He cited the men’s and women’s basketball programs as a good example, adding that students from as far away as New Jersey and Florida are currently enrolled at CCC&TI as student athletes, as well as several international students. Poarch also said that the additional athletic programs will increase awareness of the college in the community and also will provide a boost to the college’s budget with an anticipated enrollment increase approximately 7 percent.
The start-up costs are estimated at approximately $100,000 per team with an additional $144,800 total needed annually for both teams’ ongoing costs. Poarch said the baseball team will play its games at Walker Stadium in downtown Lenoir and the softball team will play at Mulberry Recreation Center in Lenoir.
As is the case with other CCC&TI athletics, state funding cannot be used to support the baseball or softball programs. Both will be supported through private donations and student activity fees collected by the college.
“This is huge for our community,” CCC&TI Athletic Director Matt Anderson said. “There is a tremendous amount of baseball and softball talent in this area, and we’re excited to provide those student athletes will another destination to continue their athletic careers after high school.”
CCC&TI baseball and softball will compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association’s Region X.
