While most of the excitement that surrounded last weekend’s baseball action centered on the visible success of the Wolfpack on the field, an entire group of unseen and often unappreciated staff worked constantly to make sure the events of the Raleigh Regional went smoothly.
Facilities staff, working in conjunction with the NCAA, handled the operation of Doak Field. From maintaining the playing surface all weekend to making sure concession stands were stocked to the brim with cold drinks and food, there were countless details that had to be taken care of. Tournament director and associate athletics director for external operations Dick Christy said hosting a regional was demanding, but it was a big opportunity for the baseball program. “It’s a community coming together to make sure we get one of our teams to advance,” he said of the efforts of the tournament workers. “This was the kind of weekend that can really propel your program and get it over the hump.”
For Christy, the efforts of so many different people were crucial. From those who prepared the field to stadium staff who checked tickets and even cleanup crews who made the stadium look like new in between games, everyone played a part.
Ray Brincefield, assistant athletics director to outdoor facilities, — a position that is in charge of making sure N.C. State facilities are in top condition and ready for play — was a particularly key contributor to the success behind the scenes at Doak Field this past weekend. Christy said the event would have been impossible without him. “Ray is really the key cog when you look at putting on an event like that,” Christy said. “He does so much; he’s catering to the NCAA representatives needs, and he’s helping with on-the-field things and making decisions on lightning and weather. He helps to tie it all together.”
In addition to the facilities staff working hard to make sure Doak Field and Dail Park were worthy of hosting a regional, media relations and marketing staff worked in overdrive to accommodate the overwhelming attention that descended upon Raleigh.
Bruce Winkworth, assistant director of athletics media relations, said the number of requests for media credentials were the most he had seen for an event at N.C. State.
“We issued exactly 100 credentials,” he said. “That is by far the most we’ve ever had since I’ve been here.”
With four teams traveling to Raleigh to compete, journalists and news crews from Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina descended upon Raleigh to cover UNC Charlotte, James Madison, South Carolina and N.C. State.
The increased attention allowed State to show not only the NCAA selection committee, but the country, that it was worthy of hosting an event like a baseball regional.
For Christy, the improvements made at Doak Field in 2002 and 2003 may have been the key component that allowed the Pack to host this year’s event.
“We just couldn’t do it,” he said of hosting before the renovations. “Two metal bleachers don’t get it done when you’re trying to hold a large scale event. The fact that we were able to sell so many tickets so quickly after the announcement really allowed us to make sure it was all red in there.”
