NCAA Division I Success
2002, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013 NCAA Regionals
2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 SoCon Regular-Season Titles
2008, 2013 SoCon Tournament Title
Walter C. Latham Park, Elon’s baseball facility, was dedicated on Saturday, April 28, 2001, in honor of Walter C. Latham, an Elon alumnus. The dedication was followed by Elon’s doubleheader against Radford University. The Phoenix swept the two games that day by scores of 10-2 and 7-6.
Latham Park underwent renovations in the summer of 2010 which replaced the playing surface with a FieldTurf infield and new natural sod in the outfield. A new drainage and irrigation system was also installed. Prior to the 2015 season, a padded outfield wall was added.
Latham (1909-2000) came to Elon in 1928 with a dream to accomplish what those before him had not. He wanted to play college ball and earn a college degree. Elon offered him that opportunity. He became the first-ever four-sport letterman at Elon and a member of the Elon Sports Hall of Fame. Latham excelled in the classroom as well. Twice he was forced to suspend his studies in order to help support his family in Bath, N.C. Each time he returned and, in 1934, he earned his degree. Latham was a coach and educator for nearly 50 years in North Carolina.
The ceremonies began with a welcome from then-Elon Director of Athletics Alan J. White and included a plaque unveiling by the Latham family. Dr. Bryan Latham, Walter’s son who made Latham Park possible, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The playing field is known as Newsome Field and was dedicated on April 29, 1978 in honor of Wilburn E. “Webb” Newsome who played football and baseball and boxed at Elon. Newsome was inducted into the Elon Hall of Fame in 1975.
Featuring a FieldTurf infield surface and a natural grass outfield, state-of-the-art drainage, batting cages, a modernized press box and major league-style dugouts, Latham Park has quickly gained a reputation as being one of the finest small university baseball facilities in not only the CAA, but also the country. Measuring 325 feet down the left field line (which also features a 12-foot high fence), 385 feet to center field and 325 feet down the right field line, the spacious confines of Latham Park have played host to some of the most memorable games and individual performances in the history of Elon baseball.
In 2005, Latham Park was adorned with lights to allow the Phoenix to play night games on campus that the community could enjoy. The first game under the new lights was played on April 9, 2005 against eventual Southern Conference Tournament champion Furman. Elon won that game by a 21-10 score.
On April 29, 2006, Elon drew its first crowd of over 1,000 spectators to Latham Park. On that night, 1,051 fans were treated to a thrilling 7-6 victory by Elon over Georgia Southern.
On May 8, 2007, the Phoenix played in front of one of the largest crowds to ever witness a game at the facility as 1,811 fans were on hand when Elon hosted then-No. 4 North Carolina.
Earlier that season, 1,421 fans flocked to Latham Park to watch the Phoenix take on South Carolina – the nation’s top-ranked team at the time.
The Phoenix set a new standard for average home attendance in 2008 as an average of 501 fans watched Elon at Latham Park.
In 2009, the Phoenix set a new Latham Park attendance mark as 1,873 people came out to watch Elon defeat then-No. 21 East Carolina by a 10-8 margin on April 28.
