Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.86
LVC Softball Park 101 N College Ave Annville, PA 17003
Year Opened: 1999
Capacity: 200
Valley Softball
Lebanon Valley College is a liberal arts college located in downtown Annville, PA. Annville is in Lebanon County, east of Hershey. Founded in 1866 Lebanon Valley has approximately 1,600 undergraduates. The Princeton Review has recognized the college as “A Best in the Northeast” and they have over thirty-five fields of study.
Lebanon Valley College is a member of NCAA Division III, and competes in the Middle Atlantic Conference. The school has produced 11 all-Americans and were the 2009 and 2011 ECAC Southwest Bowl champions. The LVC Softball Park was named the National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association Regional Field of the Year in 2000 and 2001
The school’s teams are called the Flying Dutchmen, and its mascot is the Dutchman. The college is known as the home of the 1994 NCAA Division III National Champions in basketball. That 1994 championship victory over New York University was a controversial affair when a Dutchmen shot that won the game may or may not have been by the sound of the buzzer. But no matter what, the school hosts that championship proudly, as they should.
Food & Beverage 3
There is no real official concession stand at LVC Softball Park. There is usually a small table set up with food offerings. We would expect the food sales might not happen on daytime, weekday games.
The value and options were good.
Atmosphere 5
The small college pride of Lebanon Valley College was in full effect at this game. The grandstands were packed and all sides of the field were filled with fans.
The stadium is a simple affair but is situated nicely in a hollow so that everyone, from all angles, will have a great view of the action.
The entire softball field is located in a nice, hilly area of the athletic fields.
Neighborhood 4
Annville is a great little town of a little less than 5,000 about 8 miles east of Hershey, PA. The college is right in the heart of downtown.
Funck’s Family Restaurant, Corvette Grille and Bar, and Harper’s Tavern are all local establishments that offer good food pre and post-game. The Pennsylvania chain, Hoss’s Steak & Sea House, is another option right in Annville. The food is good, cheap, and certainly plentiful.
J & S Pizza is a decent option within walking distance of campus.
Fans 4
The crowds at Lebanon Valley do not disappoint. There is quite a bit of obvious school pride with fans attending in droves. The athletic teams here are supported well and have shown a great deal of ability for their fans.
Access 4
Located on Route 422 between Lebanon and Hershey, Annville is easy to find and has no problem handling the crowds for such a small stadium. Expect that on busy game days, you will hit some traffic on Route 422 and especially on Bellegrove Road by the athletic complex.
There is a good amount of parking, but do plan ahead. You can also try to park in downtown Annville and walk over the railroad pedestrian bridge to the athletic fields.
The athletic fields are located north of the main campus, separated by a railroad.
Return on Investment 4
Generally, games are free to attend, but there may be an occasional cost, especially for post-season games.
Extras 3
The little stream you go across to find the pretty little softball field is a nice extra on its own.
Make sure to stop into the nearby Arnold Sports Center and check out LVC Hall of Champions. This museum-like display space commemorates the great individual and team achievements of Flying Dutchman athletics.
Take a peak inside the Arnold Arena and see the 1994 national championship basketball banner.
Final Thoughts
The LVC Softball Park at Lebanon Valley College is not a fancy stadium but it shows why small college athletics is such a treasure in this country. A sports fan visiting central Pennsylvania owes it to themselves to see if a game is going on when they are in the area.