Hope College will celebrate its new baseball and softball stadiums by using them on Saturday, April 26.
Doubleheaders are scheduled immediately following the dedications of Boeve Baseball Stadium and Wolters Softball Stadium.
The dedication ceremonies will begin at 12:45 p.m., first at Boeve Stadium and then at Wolters Stadium. The Flying Dutchmen baseball team will then play Kalamazoo College while the Flying Dutch will take on Alma College. A complimentary picnic will be served those attending the festivities.
Wolters Softball Stadium honors Karla and Tom Wolters, both graduates of Hope. Karla has coached collegiate athletics for 34 years. Since becoming Hope's softball coach in 1988, she has brought a new level of success to the program. She entered this softball season ranked the fourth winningest NCAA Division III coach all-time. She has coached a multitude of collegiate sports over her career, garnering more than 1,000 victories in softball, volleyball, field hockey, basketball and tennis.
Tom lettered four years in basketball at Hope, serving as captain of the team his senior year. He ranks among the all-time Hope rebounding leaders. Tom taught in the elementary and middle school levels of the Zeeland public schools system for 26 years.
Boeve Baseball Stadium honors Ron and Sunny Boeve. Ron started as a volunteer assistant baseball coach in the early 1980s under now President James Bultman and has continued to serve under three coaches, including current head coach Stu Fritz. Sunny has been a faithful attendee at Hope baseball games, home and away, keeping her own scorebook for hundreds of contests.
Ron was a standout Hope baseball player, winning recognition that included being chosen by his teammates as Hope's most valuable player and selection to the All-MIAA team twice as a catcher. In 2007 he was presented the Alumni H-Club's "Hope for Humanity Award" in recognition of his service to others. Sunny was active in the Women's League for HopeCollege for many years and involved with the Reformed Church Women. Together they were presented the Hope College Meritorious Service Award in 1994.
The stadium projects included the installation of permanent stands for fans, new press boxes and dugouts. Fans have an unobstructed view of the playing fields. The softball seating accommodates approximately 250 fans and baseball has seating for about 300. Each area has a patio suitable for tailgating.