Hundreds Attend Grand Opening of Sports Complex

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On Thursday, Oct. 20, hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the Brian Crawford Memorial Sports Complex. The seven-field complex has been a major undertaking by the Seminole State College Educational Foundation. To kickoff the event, major donors, Foundation trustees, community partners, SSC employees and student athletes gathered at the entrance for a ribbon cutting.

A ribbon cutting was also held for the complex’s Avedis Adaptive Field. Avedis Foundation President and CEO Dr. Kathy Laster cut the ribbon, surrounded by Avedis Foundation board members, SSC Educational Foundation trustees, SSC employees and community supporters. Avedis donated the funds for the creation of the adaptive field in 2020. The field is designed for individuals with cognitive or physical disabilities, providing an avenue for anyone to enjoy the game of baseball.
Members of the Crawford family gather around the entrance of the Brian Crawford Memorial Sports Complex for a blessing by Father Joseph Schwarz of Saint Benedict in Shawnee. Brian Crawford
was a Prague High School baseball player who passed away following an automobile accident in 2005. His father, Kenneth, organized the Brian Crawford Memorial Foundation and provided the lead donation for the sports complex in 2017. A statue of Brian greets visitors as they enter the complex.
Before the Trojan baseball team took to the field for an intersquad exhibition game, “All-Star Donors” took to the field and participated in a warm-up exercise, while each person and their organizations were recognized for their contributions to the complex. Pictured: SSC Educational Foundation Chair Lance Wortham takes to the pitcher’s mound, as Seminole City Manager Steve Saxon gets ready at the catcher’s position, and Oklahoma Department of Commerce Regional Development Specialist Jared Cooper mans left field. “All-Star Donors” not pictured are: Brooke Kinslow Case of the Kinslow family and Sonic Corporation, SSC President Emeritus Dr. Jim Utterback, President and CEO of the Avedis Foundation Dr. Kathy Laster, Kenneth Crawford of the Brian Crawford Memorial Foundation, SSC Board of Regents Chair Ryan Pitts and Richard Parks, who represented the Roger and Pamela Parks Trusts.
SSC Head Baseball Coach Mack Chambers (left) and Trojans catcher DeAngelo Morales (right) thank SSC President Emeritus Dr. Jim Utterback (center) for throwing the ceremonial opening pitch before the Trojans’ exhibition game.
SSC Educational Foundation Vice Chair Mark Schell delivers the ceremonial opening kick at the Trojan soccer field.
The League of Their Own co-ed softball group took to the Avedis Adaptive Field during the event. The league was established to provide a way for individuals with cognitive or physical disabilities to connect and play the sport. Players were assisted by members of the Trojan baseball team.
As part of the festivities, SSC Head Baseball Coach Mack Chambers (left) participated in a penalty kick shootout while SSC Women’s Soccer Head Coach Dan Hill (right) played goalie. Earlier in the day, Hill took on a batting challenge while Chambers pitched. 
Customized jerseys were given to the SSC Board of Regents and SSC Educational Foundation trustees for their support of the complex by the College. Pictured: SSC Regents Ryan Franklin, Kim Hyden, Robyn Ready, Marci Donaho, Curtis Morgan and Bryan Cain.
SSC Trojan baseball player Kegan McGee presents SSC President Lana Reynolds with a baseball autographed by the 2022-23 Trojan baseball team at the BCM Sports Complex grand opening.