Zizzer Ballpark Grand Opening

The West Plains R-VII School District marked a special occasion as the community celebrated the grand opening and official ribbon cutting of Zizzer Ballpark, a new state of the art baseball and softball combination field. The event, held on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, was a success, and gratitude is extended to everyone who contributed to making it possible.

Zizzer Ballpark is more than just a field; it is a place where memories will be made, and the community will come together for years to come. The project began in the fall of 2023, with planning and discussions involving the board of education, administration, and coaching staff. Construction officially started in June 2024, transforming the dirt and grass baseball field into a turf combination field with new fencing, portable softball fencing, dugout updates, and bullpens for home and visiting teams.

Looking Ahead

In addition to the current updates, future improvements are planned for Zizzer Ballpark, including:

• • Southern Missouri Technical Institute students will construct a new press box. The press box will also include new restrooms, a new concession stand, and storage for both baseball and softball.
• • Larger dugouts to better accommodate athletes.
• • An expanded field house with locker rooms for the girls’ softball team.

Special Thanks to:

• • The board of education for their commitment and support.
• • Wal-Mart of West Plains for sponsoring the Zizzer Ballpark scoreboard.
• • The West Plains Greater Area Chamber of Commerce for hosting the ribbon cutting.
• • Mandy’s Hotdogs, Pepsi, and Ice Queens for providing refreshments.
• • West Plains Student Council, Zizzer Cheer, Zizzer Pride Band, and choir for the event help and participation.

Thank you to all the Zizzer fans and community supporters who made Zizzer Ballpark a reality. Everyone's dedication brought the vision to life, and we look forward to the events to come.