On Tuesday, Penn College’s Mackenzi Tice became the first pitcher to take the mound at the Williamsport Lumber Yards, a new baseball and softball facility built just south of campus by the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce.
The Wildcats swept Penn State Abington in a double header, improving their record to 17-3 overall. They’re 4-0 in the United East Conference.
The Lumber Yards is a 28-acre complex with six lighted, synthetic turf fields. In addition to being the new home field for Penn College, it was designed to host baseball and softball tournaments, youth and adult leagues, clinics, camps and special events.
The facility’s name is appropriate: According to an 1891 map, the land – and parts of Penn College’s campus – between Rose Street and Maynard Street was at that time occupied by several sawmills and their accompanying lumberyards.
This week brings several more chances to watch Penn College softball at the Lumber Yards: Thursday, when the Wildcats play Mount Aloysius at 3 and 5 p.m., Saturday when they face Penn State Berks (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.), and Sunday against Penn State Brandywine (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.)