The ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics held a ceremony Tuesday evening at the Buccaneer Softball Stadium to announce the naming rights of Betty Basler Field.ETSU Director of Intercollegiate Athletic Dave Mullins provided Wayne Basler with a gift to show his token of appreciation for the valuable contribution to the Softball Stadium.

“Today is a very special day for the ETSU softball program and Basler family, because it is only appropriate we name this field after Betty Basler,” said Mullins. “Wayne has meant so much to our capital campaign project since day one, and we are honored to dedicate this beautiful field to his wife Betty. Without his support we would not be where we are today with the building of our new athletic facilities.”

In addition to Mullins, ETSU President Paul Stanton, Chief Operating Officer Dr. Wilsie Bishop, head ETSU softball coach Brad Irwin and senior captain Katie Henderson each expressed their appreciation to the Basler family during the ceremony.

“On behalf of the team, we are very privileged and honored to play softball in such an exceptional stadium,” Henderson said.

“We want to thank Mr. Basler and his family for this valuable contribution.”

The ETSU Softball Stadium at Betty Basler Field is the third venue to be completed in the ETSU capital campaign for athletic facilities.

It joins the Warren-Greene Golf Center and Summers-Taylor Stadium.

A Kingsport entrepreneur and longtime generous contributor to ETSU, Wayne Basler was the first person to make a gift to the Department of Athletics “Pathway to Excellence” facilities campaign.

Wayne and Betty Lawrence Basler believed very strongly in providing athletic opportunities for young women because of her interest and participation in sports during an era when females did not have the chance to participate as they have today.

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