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Gene Hooks Stadium

Coordinates: 36°7′54″N 80°16′16″W / 36.13167°N 80.27111°W / 36.13167; -80.27111
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Gene Hooks Stadium
Map
Former namesLayton Field
LocationWinston-Salem, North Carolina
Coordinates36°7′54″N 80°16′16″W / 36.13167°N 80.27111°W / 36.13167; -80.27111
OwnerWake Forest University
Capacity2,500[1]
Field sizeLeft field: 335 feet (102 m)
Center field: 400 feet (120 m)
Right field: 315 feet (96 m)
OpenedMarch 1981
ClosedMay 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

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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]
  1. ^ a b c "Gene Hooks Stadium". wakeforestsports.cstv.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2006.
  2. ^ Myatt, Al (March 11, 1981). "Merrifield Paces WFU". Rocky Mount Telegram. Rocky Mount, North Carolina. p. 16. Retrieved August 23, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Deacs dedicate Hooks Stadium". The News & Observer. April 20, 1988. p. 16. Retrieved August 23, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Deacons sweep out old stadium". The News & Observer. May 12, 2008. p. D4. Retrieved August 23, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Campus Map at universityparent.com, URL accessed November 15, 2009. Archived November 15, 2009
  6. ^ Wake Forest Releases 2009 Baseball Schedule at cstv.com, URL accessed November 15, 2009. Archived November 15, 2009
  7. ^ Winston-Salem Journal at journalnow.com, URL accessed June 21, 2010.