WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The first snow flurries fluttered across the West Liberty campus over the Halloween weekend but that didn't affect the Hilltoppers' baseball and softball workouts in the slightest thanks to the sprawling new Belmont Savings Bank Practice Facility, which dominates the north end of the hilltop campus.
    Located adjacent to the WLU Softball Complex, the massive 14,400-square foot vinyl covered steel frame structure has quickly emerged as a major asset for head baseball coach Eric Burkle and WLU softball head man Herb Minch and their student-athletes.
    "The Belmont Savings Bank Practice Facility has been a total game changer for our programs here at West Liberty," Burkle said. "All collegiate sports engage in year-around development activities with their student-athletes. This now gives us the ability to compete at the highest level with other programs in our region."
    Minch echoed Burkle's sentiments.
    "The Belmont Savings Bank Practice Facility opens up so many more practice options for us and it has made an immediate impact on our program," Minch said. "With the change in the weather, we recently moved our individual workouts indoors and our student-athletes were absolutely thrilled. The indoor facility has already put us a step ahead of where we would be in a normal year and I believe it will enable us to keep making significant improvements as we prepare to defend our MEC championship. It's a real game-changer!"
    Both coaches agreed the impact of the facility isn't limited to the student-athletes currently on campus.
    "From a recruiting standpoint," said Burkle, "the 'Facility' – which is what our guys have come to call it – gives us a total 'WOW!' factor. From the size of it on the outside to when you walk through the door and see the brand new turf, lights, heat and a full baseball diamond setup, it makes quite an impression. Recruiting has been a challenge this year due to the pandemic but now that we're in full swing and especially as we head into the colder months, we're seeing the 'Facility' provide a major boost to our recruiting process."
    Fueled by a generous lead gift from Belmont Savings Bank, the BSB Practice Facility encloses a full 120 x 120-foot playing surface beneath a high vaulted ceiling. Fully heated and insulated, its artificial turf playing surface can provide an upgraded practice experience for all WLU athletic teams throughout the year.
    Here's a link to some photos of the facility in use by WLU student-athletes:
    Link: Belmont Savings Bank Practice Facility
    Not only does the Belmont Savings Bank Practice Facility enhance the student-athlete experience for the nearly 500 student-athletes on campus, its presence on campus has been a boon to all West Liberty students.
    Once the facility opened, it allowed the baseball and softball teams to remove their winter practice gear from the Blatnik Hall gym, freeing that venue up for general student use and intramural competition.
    The Belmont Savings Bank Practice Facility figures to be a busy place over the next few months as the Mountain East Conference has moved all fall and winter sports to the second semester. Schedules are currently being finalized and will be released within the next few weeks.