PREP SOFTBALL: St. James Invitational to debut newly renovated Lagoon Park

Lagoon Park softball complex has undergone a $2.4 million renovation and will be the host site of its first tournament since the changes beginning Friday. (File Photo)

By TIM GAYLE

While the $2.4 million renovation of Lagoon Park Softball Complex still has a little more work, the facility will make its debut this weekend in the Trojan Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

St. James will host a seven-team softball tournament that has scheduled games on Friday before advancing to a championship bracket on Saturday.

“It’s exciting to get to see the new upgrades and additions to the facility,” St. James coach Mark Hall said. “Lagoon Park has been around for many, many years. What I told the teams is a lot of them will be competing in the (Central) Regional at Lagoon Park and you get an early look at it.

“I’m as excited as anybody just to see (the changes) myself.”

The Trojans will be joined by Opelika, Maplesville, Trinity, Pike Road, Chilton County and Autauga Academy in the two-day tournament. Montgomery Academy was originally scheduled to compete in the tournament but dropped out after a coaching change.

The changes to the facility include new fencing, netted backstops and a slight change in the five fields toward their original placement closer to the outfield fence, creating more space between home plate and the backstop.

“They’ve got six lanes of batting cages as you walk in the park now and that’s been one of the big knocks against Lagoon Park is that there is nowhere to warm up,” Hall said. “So now they’ve got that.”

City officials are still renovating fieldhouse restrooms. When those final renovations are complete, there will be a formal dedication and a ribbon-cutting ceremony to acknowledge the first major renovation of the facility since its construction in the mid 1970s. 

The tournament was originally hosted by JAG but a coaching change at the school resulted in Hall taking over the tournament.

 “I’ve got it and plan on keeping it and growing it next year,” he said. “I want to try and have 20-30 teams in this tournament next year with teams from all over the state. As far as this year, teams start scheduling as soon as the season ends. The problem with getting teams in it this year is that teams have already committed to playing in other places.”

The Trojans (2-0) are considered one of the favorites to win the event, but are missing four starters from their lineup. Second baseman Sydney Johnston, shortstop Lily Stanford and outfielders Kaitlin Mitchell and Kaitlyn Hudson are practicing with the basketball team, which will be participating in the state tournament next week in Birmingham.

After pool play on Friday, teams will be placed in a single-elimination bracket on Saturday based on their pool play record. Ties will be resolved by head-to-head record, followed by runs allowed, then a coin flip. Saturday games are limited to 80 minutes, with ties resolved by the international tiebreaker.

TROJAN INVITATIONAL

Lagoon Park Softball Complex

Friday’s Schedule

St. James vs Opelika, Field 1, 4 p.m. 

Pike Road vs. Chilton County, Field 2, 4 p.m.

Trinity vs. Autauga Academy, Field 3, 4 p.m.

Maplesville vs St. James, Field 1, 5:30 p.m.

Chilton County vs. Opelika, Field 2, 5:30 p.m.

Autauga Academy vs. Pike Road, Field 3, 5:30 p.m. 

Trinity vs Maplesville, Field 1, 7 p.m.

Saturday’s schedule

Quarterfinals, 10 a.m.

Semifinals, 11:45 a.m.

Championship, 1:30 p.m.