LINCOLN, Nebraska, (Sept. 28, 2022) – Nebraska Wesleyan University baseball and softball programs will have a new home at Lincoln Youth Complex, the multi-field facility planned for Oak Lake Park. 
 
Lincoln Youth Complex includes a baseball and softball stadium for NWU athletics. The two stadiums will have covered seating, batting cages, lights, artificial turf fields and will be used exclusively by NWU during the spring baseball and softball seasons. Lincoln Youth Complex will have eight turfed baseball/softball fields in total. Outfield areas of each field can accommodate flag football, soccer, lacrosse and other athletic events, providing at least 15 fields of play for the complex. LYC also includes 750 parking stalls and overflow parking to accommodate visitors. 
 
"These facilities are a game changer for our student athletes," NWU Director of Athletics Dwight Merilatt stated. "We are excited at the ability to now host events on a consistent basis and participate in home post-season competition. The stadiums will foster a student-athlete experience that will place our university as one of the top competition sites for NCAA Division III baseball and softball."
 
The project aligns with NWU's new multi-year strategic plan, which includes a focus on enhanced community partnerships and elevated facilities, including investments in athletics. Over a third of NWU students participate in varsity athletics. For nearly two decades, both NWU programs have practiced and competed on separate sports fields owned and operated by the City of Lincoln's Department of Parks and Recreation, Woods Park and University Place Park. Lincoln Youth Complex is expected to be completed sometime in 2024.
 
"We are honored that our Lincoln community asked us join this project," said NWU President Darrin Good. "We pride ourselves on impactful, transformative experiences inside and outside of the classroom and this facility will certainly provide incredible experiences for our baseball and softball programs, our student-athletes and future Prairie Wolves as well as the thousands of young athletes from across the region who will compete at this ballpark."
 
"While our student-athletes will benefit significantly from these stadiums, we are equally excited for the opportunity to use Lincoln Youth Complex as a catalyst to help us provide impactful experiences to underserved youth in Lincoln," Good continued. "With this facility, we have an amazing opportunity to break down some barriers that will allow us to create experiences on the field for these youth who may not have the financial means to participate in baseball and softball. Community is a core value at Nebraska Wesleyan, and service is part of Nebraska Wesleyan's ethos. We can't wait to help these youth thrive."
 
The Prairie Wolves baseball and softball programs are coming off of successful seasons in 2022. The softball program qualified for the 2022 NCAA Division III Softball Championship, a first in program history. Recently, Kailey Meyer ('22) was named the 2022 American Rivers Conference (ARC) pitcher of the year, and three of her teammates earned all-conference awards for the season. The men's baseball program received four ARC all-conference awards as well. Learn more about Nebraska Wesleyan's softball and baseball programs, or how you can support the LYC project.