Buies Creek – Campbell celebrated the beginning of the 2017 baseball season Saturday evening with the program’s ninth annual First Pitch Dinner.
Third year head coach Justin Haire previewed the 2017 Camels, Jeremy Sheetinger delivered the keynote address, and Director of Athletics Bob Roller highlighted the evening with the announcement of a new video board at Jim Perry Stadium.
The state-of-the-art HD video board will be the largest in the Big South Conference, measuring 35’7.6” tall and 42’1.6” wide, and will be completed during the Camels’ 2017 season.
The announcement was the latest addition to Jim Perry Stadium, the home of the Camels’ baseball program. A new playing surface was finished this week, completing a major portion of the renovation process.
In addition to the new field, Jim and Daphne Perry Pavilion continues to take shape behind the Camels’ home dugout. The project will supply additional seating while providing new offices for the entire baseball staff, a state-of-the-art locker room and new in-ground dugouts, a viewing deck, and provide a new home for the entire Campbell baseball operation.
Additionally, new padding on the outfield walls, as well as new foul polls have been installed during the process. Jim Perry Stadium will also serve as the home of the Buies Creek Astros for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
Sheetinger is currently the College Division Liaison for the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), and is a former coach. With the ABCA, “Sheets” oversees NCAA Division II, III, NAIA and the NJCAA, also serving as an MLB Associate Scout with the Atlanta Braves.
Throughout his career, Sheets has done extensive work on the national camp circuit, working/running events in over 30 different states, as well as Canada and the Dominican Republic. He has coached at every level, from assistant jobs at the NAIA and Division II levels, to Director of Operations at University of Kentucky for 3 years. He spent three years as a collegiate head coach at Spalding University in Louisville, Ky.
Haire previewed the 2017 Campbell season, as well as introduced this year’s team and staff.
The Camels begin the 2017 season Feb. 17, hosting Northern Kentucky.
