Ball State names baseball and softball fields after First Merchants Corporation

The Ball State Board of Trustees has approved naming a new baseball and softball complex after a local company. Ball State sports fans are familiar with venues like Scheumann Stadium and Worthen Arena – named after alumni and university officials Today, the board voted to approve calling the new sports facility the First Merchants Ball Park Complex. It is named after First Merchants Corporation, which is headquartered in Muncie.

The new ball park complex is part of a campaign Ball State announced in April of 2013 to raise $20 million to update its sports facilities. Then-Athletic Director Bill Scholl said the ball fields haven’t been upgraded in 40 years.

Today, the board learned that new artificial turf, dugouts, bullpens, and a perimeter fence has already been put up on the fields on the corner of Bethel and Tillotson avenues.

First Merchants Marketing Director Karen Evens says the company has been working with Ball State officials on the plan for more than a year. Ball State Executive Director of Public Relations Joan Todd was not available for comment after the Board of Trustees meeting.