NEWPORT NEWS — In April 2024, Christopher Newport University cut the ribbon on its new indoor hitting facility, and one year later, the CNU baseball and softball teams are seeing the return.
The Vic Zodda Training Facility was built as part of a generous donation from the Zodda family. Zodda, who died in 2021 at the age of 99, was hired to work in the offices of the Brooklyn Dodgers after serving in World War II, and in 1950 became the President and General Manager of the Dodgers’ minor league team in Newport News.
According to the university, Zodda led the Newport News minor league team, known as the Baby Dodgers, from 1950 until 1953, when he decided to try his hand in the restaurant business. The success that followed lasted for many years, and in 1965, Zodda was named Outstanding Restaurateur in the State of Virginia.
Zodda was a longtime supporter of CNU baseball and softball.
Baseball head coach John Harvell, who has been at the helm of the Captains baseball for 25 years, used to have to trek his athletes across campus and compete for hitting space with intramural and other DIII sports programs.
“One thing kids are always looking at when they decide to play in college is, are they going to have the facilities and the capability of getting better. Being able to have a facility like this, knowing the kids can go in and hit as much as they want, our recruits know they are going to have that opportunity to get better,” Harvell said.
The facility is also a place where the Captains can get practice in, even if the springtime weather is not cooperating.
The facility houses four indoor batting cages, three portable mounds, two pitching machines, and technology that allows athletes to see exit velocity, ball top and back spin, and where the bat makes contact with the ball. It is also conveniently located directly across the sidewalk from Captains Field.
For Captains senior catcher Lincoln Lubsen, the addition of the indoor facility has helped him grow his game to the next level.
“It’s been so amazing to have. We can all get in there as a team and do what we need to do to get better. Personally, I try to come in here at least one to two hours every day and I work on my swing, work on catching stuff, and just helping other guys out at the same time,” Lubsen said.
The Vic Zodda Training Center is also open to the public during camps throughout the summer.
For more information on the facility or CNU baseball, visit cnusports.com.