Robert H. Ledbetter Baseball Complex - Shorter University

General Admission

History

Located in Rome, Georgia, Robert H. Ledbetter Baseball Complex is home to the D2 Shorter Eagles. Opened in 1999 along with the start of the baseball program, the Ledbetter Baseball Complex has seen many updates over the years, even winning the American Baseball Coaches Association’s Outstanding Field Maintenance Award in 2006. Members of Conference Carolinas, Shorter moved to D2 in 2012, starting their baseball program in NAIA.

Atmosphere

The fans at Shorter easily fill the bleacher style stands, with a solid amount also bringing lawn chairs to sit in. The field is on the top of a hill, and I did not see any accessible way to get to the field, so something to keep in mind. Fans were engaged and cheered the entire game, which I’m sure was impacted by the fact that they were honoring their seniors. They were extremely welcoming, happy to give recommendations on things to do while I was in town. One important thing to keep in mind is that the shade is extremely limited, so prepare for the Georgia heat.

Concessions

There is no rule against outside food and drink at Ledbetter, and that seemed to be the direction most folks went; there are a few fast food places close if you want to grab something to bring to the game. Keep in mind that there is no concession stand, so even if you aren’t worried about food, you’ll definitely want to plan to bring something to drink. One thing Shorter has that I don’t see often at the D2 level is a small merch popup tent. While it only sold hats and t-shirts, the fact that it was there at all was a welcome sight at a smaller program.

Access

Rome, somehow, is not along any of the major interstates that run through Georgia. Located north of I-20 and west of I-275, prepare for a little bit of a drive if you’re heading to Rome. There are plenty of hotels close, though, due to the minor league Rome Emperors field being close by. Parking is free, though like I mentioned in the ‘atmosphere’ section, there’s a hill to climb up after parking. All the parking is in ‘park at your own risk’ territory, so be sure to keep that in mind.

Final Thoughts

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed my visit to Shorter, and with how welcoming both they and the visiting Chowan fans were. If you find yourself in Rome, especially for an Emperors game, I highly recommend checking to see if the Eagles are also in town.