NEW DIGS
The Donald R. Shepherd
Softball Center Opened This Spring
BY MICHAEL SPATH
T
he Michigan softball team enjoyed new digs this past season after the
Donald R. Shepherd Softball Center, adjacent to U-M's stadium, was
completed in February and dedicated on April 11.
The 10,200-square-foot, three-level facility contains a new team
locker room, training room, coaches' offices, team meeting room, gym and
showcases that highlight the success of the program.
University of Michigan regents approved the $5.3 million project in March
2013, and construction then began in June 2013 and was completed in only
nine months.
The state-of-the-art training room on the first floor features two hydrother-
apy pools, while coaches' offices on the second floor and an open-air balcony
on the third provide a prime view of the Wolverines' stadium complex.
Utilizing the softball center for the first time, the Maize and Blue went 47-
15 in 2014, including an 18-5 record in Big Ten play that was good enough to
win the league title.
The spacious locker room is a considerable upgrade over the cramped quarters the team
was forced to use in the past.
PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL
