Baxter Field Explained

Stadium Name:Baxter International Baseball Field
Nickname:Baxter Field
Location:Gundurimba Road, Lismore, New South Wales
Coordinates:-28.8216°N 153.2715°W
Opened:1960
Renovated:2002, 2020
Owner:New South Wales Government
Surface:Grass
Tenants:Lismore Timberjacks
(Claxton Shield)
Seating Capacity:1,500
Dimensions:Left Field – 325feet
Center Field – 380feet
Right Field – 325feet

Baxter International Baseball Field or the Albert Park Baseball Complex is home to the Far North Coast Baseball Association (FNCBA), part of Baseball NSW, in Lismore, New South Wales. It is a fully fenced and regulation size field with field level fenced dugouts, bullpens, 4 batting cages as well as covered stands. Floodlighting is of international standard and has numerous Claxton Shield games since 1968.[1]

The field is part of the larger Albert Park complex, with several diamonds, and opposite to Baxter Field is Thew Field which serves as a playing field for juniors as well as a warm up and training field. It is also a regulation sized, floodlight field.

History

Baxter Field is named in honour of Reg Baxter, OAM (1924–2014),[2] Norths (Baseball Club) and FNCBA stalwart, and a former Lismore City Council Councillor who was tireless in his support for local sport (baseball, cricket and softball) and instrumental in upgrading the facilities at Albert Park.[3]

In 2020, a $6.95 million upgrade was completed to redevelop the complex to become the Little League centre of Australia.[4]

In 2021, the Sydney Blue Sox announced they would be playing at least one home series against the Canberra Cavalry at the facility in lieu of being able to play at Blue Sox Stadium due to Blacktown falling in a COVID-19 pandemic hotspot. It is the first Australian Baseball League games at the complex since 2012 when the Blue Sox were hosted by the geographically closer Brisbane Bandits.[5]

The facility will also host the Australian Baseball League All-Star Game in 2021–22.[6]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.fnc.baseball.com.au/default.asp?Page=15202&MenuID=About_Us/3210/0/ Far North Coast Baseball Club History
  2. Web site: Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council of the City of Lismore, Tuesday 12 August 2014 . . 29 July 2019 . en . 12 August 2014.
  3. Web site: Mortimer . Luke . Mateship shines through as Reg Baxter farewelled . . 21 July 2019 . en . 14 August 2014.
  4. https://www.baseballqueensland.com.au/far-north-coast-building-for-the-future/ 7 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT BOOSTS LISMORE’S POSITION ON THE MAP
  5. Web site: Craig . Mitchell . Lismore plays ball . . 20 January 2021 . en . 8 August 2012 .
  6. Web site: Swanton . Will . Lismore plays ball . . 20 January 2021 . en . 18 January 2021.