Sept. 16, 2005

Garden City, N.Y. - The dedication of the Janet L. Ficke Softball Field is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 15, beginning at 11:30 a.m. This will mark the first new athletic facility dedication on the Garden City campus in over 50 years.

The naming ceremony, which will take place, rain or shine, will be followed by an alumni game at 12 noon with a barbecue lunch immediately thereafter.

Fund raising for the naming of the field began a year ago with a target goal of $50,000. With the event quickly approaching the university has raised over $47,000 towards this amount and donations are still being accepted.

Ficke, a pioneer in women's athletics, was the Head Softball Coach at Adelphi from the program's inception in 1972 until 1985. In 17 years at the helm, she amassed a 362-160-3 record, made five NCAA Division I Tournament appearances and three College World Series appearances. A 1959 graduate of Adelphi University, Ficke has been a coach, mentor, teacher and friend to the university for over 45 years. A Hall of Fame inductee and Woodruff Award recipient, Ficke continues to serve Adelphi and its community.

This event is the first of its kind since the 1956 naming of Stiles Field, the home of Adelphi soccer and lacrosse.

If you are interested in attending the event or would like more information on how you can donate to the field dedication, please contact Kate Whalen, Head Softball Coach, at (516) 877-4241 or email whalen@adelphi.edu.