Since its opening in 1985, Southern Miss' Pete Taylor Park has been one of the premier collegiate baseball facilities in the South. Now, with the addition of the Rogers, Thames and Welch Baseball Center at Pete Taylor Park, this facility has elevated its status even more.

The facility was made possible by numerous donors, with major contributions from Charles "Bubba" and Sharon Rogers, Clay and Cindy Thames, Scott Thames and Nick and Gigi Welch, who provided the majority of the total cost of the facility.

In August 2001, the baseball center opened its doors and what was once a dream, became a reality. In November 2000, Southern Miss broke ground, the foundation was laid in December and the walls and roof were completed in January. The 6,000 square foot facility, adjacent to the first base side of the park, was completed and was in use for the 2002 baseball season.

"This Baseball Center is a tremendous boost for our baseball program," Southern Miss Head Coach Corky Palmer said. "The Baseball Center is a great addition to our excellent stadium, making our total complex one of the finest in the South. This facility also will give us the opportunity to enhance our recruiting, as we strive to reach the highest level of collegiate baseball. I am extremely excited for the players and the program. We are thankful to all the people who made this dream become a reality."

With the addition of the center, current and future Southern Miss players have a home that rivals that of any other institution in Conference USA, if not the country. The center, funded totally by private donations, provides state-of-the art facilities, including a team locker room, training room, players' lounge, an area for equipment storage and distribution, a laundry area, as well as coaches' offices and dressing areas for coaches and umpires. There also is a large lobby area at the entrance of the building, displaying the history and tradition of the baseball program.

"We are pleased with the quality of our baseball program under the leadership of Coach Palmer," Southern Miss Director of Athletics Richard Giannini said. "Having a first-class clubhouse for our team is just another step in providing the opportunity of taking their program to even greater heights."