Southeastern breaks ground for baseball hitting facility
Contact: Rene Abadie
2/18/11
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Participating in Southeastern baseball hitting facility groundbreaking event are, from left, Rachel Artigues, Head Baseball Coach Jay Artigues, Athletics Director Bart Belairs, President John L. Crain, lead donors Georgianne and John Poteet of Hammond, Vice President for University Advancement Wendy Lauderdale, LAA President David Vial, Vice President for Administration and Finance Stephen Smith, Facilities and Planning Director Ken Howe and contractor Roy Eschette of Zimmer-Eschette Construction. Back row are current members of the Southeastern baseball team.
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University officials broke ground recently to start construction on a new, enclosed baseball hitting facility made possible by a donation from the owners of an area business.
In a brief ceremony near Alumni Field, officials donned green construction hardhats and wielded gold shovels to initiate the start of the project, expected to be completed this spring.
Southeastern Athletics Director Bart Bellairs recognized John and Georgianne Poteet of Hammond as the lead donors for the facility. The Poteets operate Louisiana’s 1st Choice Auto Auction, a company that began operations in Hammond in 2002.
“We know facilities are a major feature student-athletes evaluate when they are making decisions about where they should attend college and compete athletically,” said Bellairs. “This facility takes us a step further in our goal of providing first class support of our baseball team.”
Poteet said that while he is not from Hammond nor is he a graduate of Southeastern, he is a firm believer that businesses should be strong supporters of the educational institutions in their respective area. Poteet and his wife are enthusiastic backers of the Lions baseball program.
The 3,000-square foot lighted facility will be covered with metal panels to allow use in inclement weather. Contractor for the project is Zimmer-Eschette Construction of New Orleans.
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