A cool rainy fall day in Kent, Ohio didn’t stop a number of faculty, current baseball and softball players and alumni from attending Saturday’s dedication event at Schoonover Stadium.

The David and Peggy Edmonds Softball and Baseball Training Facility was officially opened for use after a short ceremony inside. The honored guests at the event were Dave Edmonds, ’80, who donated a generous $500,000 to the university and Tom Cole, ’72, who donated $100,000 to complete the project, both of whom are former Kent State baseball players.

The ceremony kicked off as Kent State President Beverly Warren addressed what new facility means to the Kent State community.

“This is a welcome home for so many who care about this university and I am so glad to be apart of a university where men’s and women’s athletics is equally celebrated,” Warren said.

The facility will include state-of-the-are batting cages, pitchers mounds and field turf that will also be installed inside Schoonover Stadium.

Edmonds, who dedicated the facility in honor of his father and late mother Peggy, talked about his motivation for donating.

“I would not be able to do anything I have done in my life without my dad and mom,” Edmonds said.

The dedication marked a special time to celebrate Kent State athletics, and Edmonds and Cole have both left their mark.

Donor Tom Cole has always kept the university close to his heart and expressed how exciting of a time this was for all involved.

“I think this is a great example of how the university is committed to their athletics now and in the future,” Cole said. “The preparation I received not only in athletics was a great stepping stone to what I would experience in life.”

Kent State, a university that has been consistently committed to growth, has begun its Building Champions initiative that will help raise funds from private donors for years to come.

After a first-pitch ceremony from Dave and his father, the new facility is now home to Flashes’ athletics.

“Kent State is composed of many great individuals, but most importantly, it’s people who truly care about this university,” Warren concluded.

Contact Ricky Salcer at [email protected].