From the Bird’s Nest: Reliving good times at Lamson Park

You all remember the famous line from "Field of Dreams." In fact, it's become an overused cliche'.

"If you build it, they will come."

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajun softball team is perennially one of the Top 25 programs in America. It's been that way for over twenty years.

And now, they have a facility worthy of their excellence.

It's not totally finished yet. There's still plenty of work to do in the press/suites area and the ladies'

clubhouse.

But over the weekend, it was plenty good enough for the fans that flocked to Lamson Park to witness

the Sun Belt Conference softball tournament.

The Cajuns built it, and the fans came.

Attendance for the tournament was over 10,ooo. For a Sun Belt Conference softball tournament.

The attendance for the finals was 1,537. Louisiana co-head coach Mike Lotief said the only atmosphere he's been around that was better was in Oklahoma City, site of the Women's College World Series.

The capacity at the "new" Lamson Park is just under 3,000. I don't know if we'll see it filled to capacity anytime soon.

But the Cajuns' built it, and the people came.

And, they're going to come back.

The amenities at Lamson are solid. No really long concession lines. Plenty of restrooms. An overhang that allows fans to get out of the sun if they're sitting in the grandstand. Backs on all the seats in the grandstand. Not a bad seat anywhere, even in the outfield which gives fans an extra perspective.

For the players, spacious dugouts, plenty of bullpen area and a place to hit.

When the club suite and individual suites are completed, those fans will enjoy the view from upstairs. There's a press box, individual booths for radio and television and restrooms upstairs.

The players' clubhouse will be first class. There will be a slanted floor with theatre-style seating for watching video. There will be a laundry room and a room for taping student-athletes. The clubhouse itself will feature double-doored lockers.

Fans for years have criticized the University for doing things halfway.

There's nothing halfway about this place.

The Cajuns built it, and the people came.

Let's put that 10,000in attendance in perspective, shall we?

Since 1999, the Sun Belt Conference has not seen 10,000 fans for one of its BASEBALL tournaments,

except for those held in Lafayette.

Mobile came close to 10,000 in 2002 and 2004 but fell to 6000 in 2007. Troy had nice attendance despite horrible weather in 2009 with 8700.

But only the 2001, 2003 and 2008 tournaments at M. L. "Tigue" Moore Field outdrew what the fans had to say about softball over the weekend.

With a new facility comes new fans. It's been proven. And the Cajun women, who already have a fan base that dwarfs most softball programs in the United States, have a fighting chance next year to have a season ticket base that is larger than all BASEBALL programs in the Sun Belt, with exception of the Cajun men.

Stefni and Michael Lotief, under financial constraints and great odds have been able to continue the tremendous success of the Louisiana softball program.

They deserve this facility.

So do the fans.