New clubhouse unveiled for softball

The Colby Community College softball team will host an open house to showcase their new clubhouse from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8. The facility is north of the Carl Adams Softball Field on the CCC campus.

Construction on the 1,000 square-foot structure was financed by fundraising and private donations. The upstairs locker room doubles as a recreation area with air hockey and ping-pong tables. The lower level is a lounge area that includes a flat-screen TV and kitchen. An adjacent section provides 500 square feet of storage that is shared with other departments on campus.

The clubhouse was built on the site of the college handball courts. A student survey found the area was not being used.  

Head softball coach Steve Kinnett has 30 years of remodeling experience and repurposed the concrete courts for the foundation and walls.

Except for the electrical requirements, he did most of the work with help from the players.

"The girls built the ping pong table," he said. "They also helped do a number of other things like building the countertops, installing and finishing the woodwork and installing the appliances."

Kinnett is also thankful for sporadic assistance from some campus employees.

"If they came to visit and see how it was going, I'd put them to work," he said.

The project began last June and was completed this week.