Gene Hooks Stadium
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| Former names | Layton Field |
|---|---|
| Location | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
| Coordinates | 36°7′54″N 80°16′16″W / 36.13167°N 80.27111°W |
| Owner | Wake Forest University |
| Capacity | 2,500[1] |
| Field size | Left field: 335 feet (102 m) Center field: 400 feet (120 m) Right field: 315 feet (96 m) |
| Opened | March 1981 |
| Closed | May 2008 |
| Tenants | |
| Wake Forest Demon Deacons (NCAA) (1981–2008) | |
Gene Hooks Stadium was a baseball stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It was the primary home field of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons baseball program from 1981 through 2008.
History
[edit]The stadium was in use by March 1981, under its original name of Layton Field,[2] and was dedicated on April 18, 1981.[1] On April 23, 1988, it was renamed after former Wake Forest University athletic director Gene Hooks.[3][1] Wake Forest's final game at the stadium was a 9–4 win over the Duke Blue Devils on May 11, 2008.[4]
The ballpark was part of a complex sitting north of Faculty Drive (home plate / first base side) and a short distance east of Wingate Road (third base side). There were trees beyond right field, and a small practice golf course beyond left and center field. The ballpark sat less than a mile and almost directly west of BB&T Field and Ernie Shore Field.[5]
For the 2009 season, the team moved back on a full-time basis to their previous home, Ernie Shore Field, which was then renamed Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park,[6] and later renamed David F. Couch Ballpark.
Gene Hooks Stadium was subsequently demolished to make way for expansion of the golf practice course.[7] The walkway forming the boundary of the southwest portion of the practice course roughly outlines the outer edge of the site of the ballpark's grandstand.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Gene Hooks Stadium". wakeforestsports.cstv.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2006.
- ^ Myatt, Al (March 11, 1981). "Merrifield Paces WFU". Rocky Mount Telegram. Rocky Mount, North Carolina. p. 16. Retrieved August 23, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Deacs dedicate Hooks Stadium". The News & Observer. April 20, 1988. p. 16. Retrieved August 23, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "Deacons sweep out old stadium". The News & Observer. May 12, 2008. p. D4. Retrieved August 23, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ Campus Map at universityparent.com, URL accessed November 15, 2009. Archived November 15, 2009
- ^ Wake Forest Releases 2009 Baseball Schedule at cstv.com, URL accessed November 15, 2009. Archived November 15, 2009
- ^ Winston-Salem Journal at journalnow.com, URL accessed June 21, 2010.