UVa Baseball Stadium Hits Home Run in Expansion

We were thrilled to take part in UVa Baseball’s home opener this past February.

Project Manager Jeff Sims, was asked to throw one of three first pitches, “It was great and an honor to be asked,” Sims said. Dave Clavarella and Scott Dobbe, from Omaha-based architecture firm The DLR Group, were also asked to throw first pitches. With 3,700 people watching and zero time to warm-up, Sims hit the glove throwing a first-pitch strike.

From beginning to end, people have been excited about the stadium’s expansion and renovations:

“We had an idea of what it was going to look like, and then we came back from Christmas break,” junior center fielder Jake McCarthy said. “And it’s really surprising how fast it’s gotten up. And I’m more excited for the fans to experience what’s going on here. Come Opening Day, it’s going to be awesome.” –  The Daily Progress

“‘When you have a beautiful stadium, fans come out more often and there’s more support for the baseball program, and I think that can translate to wins on the field, and obviously continue to have high level recruiting,’ said UVA Baseball Head Coach Brian O’Connor.”  – NBC29

“I see where we were at the end of last season and where we’re at today, and I’m just amazed,” O’Connor said. “The work that these people have done, the guys that wear the hard hats every day, has been incredible. They just haven’t stopped. It seems like there’s a lot of pride in this project.” – UVa Today

“(Former A.D.) Craig Littlepage and his team had this vision, along with (baseball coach Brian) O’Connor,” Carla Williams said. “As it turns out today, looking at it and being here on opening day, it’s pretty remarkable. I’ve walked throughout the facility. It’s got to be the best in the country.” – Richmond Times Dispatch

A big thanks to the Martin Horn team who made this project a home run!

By: Mike Barber/Richmond Times-Dispatch

Pictured left to right: Dave Clavarella (The DLR Group), Scott Dobbe (The DLR Group), Jeff Sims (Martin Horn)

Jeff Sims throwing a first-pitch strike