This morning (April 17) the Joanna community east of Clinton took a giant step into the monumental task of preserving the heritage of baseball - past, present, and future.
The Joanna Stadium Project had its official ground-breaking and the restoration of home plate to its rightful place. Presiding was Michael Riefsnyder, president, with the project’s board: Eddie Marshall, secretary; Robert Livingston, treasurer; James Goldsmith and Eddie Abrams.
Riefsnyder read the iconic James Earl Jones speech from “Field of Dreams” even as he acknowledged not having the late, famed actor’s distinctive bass voice. This is the “If you build it, they will come” speech.
According to a facts sheet, “Joanna Stadium will provide an immersive experience showcasing baseball’s rich and diverse history. Our goal is to preserve the game’s legacy and inspire future generations of players. We are dedicated to promoting non-profit baseball organizations and creating professional-quality facilities to support, develop, and elevate community baseball and future athletes. This initiative transcends mere stadium renovation; it is designed to enhance the vibrancy of our community, fostering local pride and serving as a focal point for collective engagement.”
The iconic stadium is behind Christ Central Ministries in Joanna, and its uses are envisioned as individual games, high school and conference tournaments, and American Legion. An affiliate project is the Joanna Hornets, with 30 college players from the area, a wood bat summer league in the Southern Shores League, coached by Stuart Lake. They will play a 30+ game schedule starting May 29 and the 2025 season will be played at Newberry High School.
Famed Textile Leagues and MLB pitcher Billy O’Dell threw from the mound right behind where the organizing committee was standing, Riefsnyder said. O’Dell set a high school record that still stands - 27 strikeouts in a 9 inning game, only a low 3rd strike pitch that ricocheted off the plate producing a base runner ruined a perfect game.
Countless memories like that are embedded in the Joanna Stadium, just waiting for new memories to be made.
UPCOMING
April 2025
Groundbreaking Ceremony
Spring/Summer 2025
Dugout Renovation
Bleacher Repair
Fall 2025
Field Surface Construction
Winter 2026
Phase 1 Press Box Construction
Phase 1 Ticket Booth Construction
Spring 2026
Phase 1 Grand Opening
The Joanna Project here.
