Wilder Park
Home of West Texas A&M Baseball
West Texas A&M University is home to one of the finest Division II baseball complexes in the nation. Wilder Park is a state-of-the-art in every way and provides West Texas A&M baseball players and coaches with an all-inclusive complex that includes locker rooms, meeting rooms, batting cages and one of the best playing surfaces anywhere in the country.
“We are very lucky to have the support of the community, administration, student body and the Buffalo Club here at West Texas A&M University” said Buff head coach Matt Vanderburg “With their support, we now have the opportunity to work and play on one of the nicest ballparks in all of NCAA Division II. Wilder Park has everything you could ask for and more."
WT’s dream of a new, state-of-the-art baseball complex became a reality when ground was broken in a ceremony in the winter of 2009. Construction workers worked continuously to complete the facility, which also competition fields for soccer, track and field and baseball along with tennis courts, outdoor basketball courts, three intramural fields for flag football and slow-pitch softball and practice facilities for football, soccer and the WTAMU Marching Band. The result was the creation of one of the nation’s premier collegiate sports complexes.
Wilder Park which was completed in December of 2010, includes ticket and concession buildings and a spacious pressbox with radio/television booths. The home dugout is connected to the team’s clubhouse which consists of coaches’ offices, a laundry facility, a team meeting room and locker room.
"Wilder Park gives our staff and players a wonderful experience and atmosphere to come out to everyday" said Vanderburg "Our players spend countless hours not only on baseball but just hanging out in the clubhouse and bonding as a team."
The park was named after David and Myrt Wilder of Plainview who donated $200,000 to the construction of the facility. David Wilder, WTAMU Class of 1965, spent most of his professional career managing financial records and investments as an executive for First National Bank in Plainview. He retired in 1996. He has served as a member of the board for the WTAMU Foundation. The Wilders previously have made contributions in excess of $100,000 to the WTAMU College of Business to endow the David and Myrt Wilder Scholarship fund, the baseball field at Wayland Baptist University is also named after the couple.
The lighted facility is made completely of AstroTurf GameDay 3D synthetic turf with the combination of green and chocolate brown for a perfect looking playing surface year-round. The stands feature 150 chair back seats for members of the Buffalo Club and season ticket holder and another 340 general admission seats for a total capacity of 490.
“Fans love coming out to a game at Wilder Park, our gameday promotions and atmosphere are some of the best that I've ever seen” said Vanderburg “We think that the construction of this facility will help us bring in the recruits that are expected at West Texas A&M to put talented and competitive team on the field year-in and year-out."
