Kansas University finally will have a softball stadium, thanks to a $2 million pledge from Mission Hills businesswoman Cheryl Womack.

“I think it’s really special a woman is giving the money,” KU softball coach Tracy Bunge said. “Her gift will enhance the entire program.”

Womack, CEO of VCW Holding Co. of Kansas City, Mo., is a 1975 KU elementary education graduate who taught school briefly before beginning a career in business.

Womack said she donated the money because she wanted to “increase the level of confidence of the women athletes who use it.”

KU’s current softball facility, Jayhawk Field, is generally regarded as the worst in the Big 12 Conference.

“Iowa State is the only other school without a stadium, and their facility is better than ours because they’ve made several renovations over the years,” Bunge said. “In the seven years I’ve been here we haven’t made any renovations because we always planned to build a new stadium.”

Current plans call for Jayhawk Field to be razed after the conclusion of the 2003 season and the new stadium erected in time for the start of the 2004 season. It will be named Demostenes Arrocha Stadium after Womack’s father, a Panamanian immigrant.

One notable change will be the reversal of home plate. The batter’s boxes will be shifted to where center field is today. Bunge opted for that alignment in order to take advantage of the prevailing southwest winds.

“I’m tired of it not being a hitters’ park,” Bunge said. “There’s not a lot of offense now when the wind is blowing in. And it will keep the dust from blowing into the fans’ faces, and keep the sun out of their eyes, too.”

In the new stadium, Bunge will also be able to schedule night games and conduct practices because it will have lights. Jayhawk Field has no illumination.

The second phase of the project, still to be funded, will add three dressing rooms  for the Jayhawks, the visitors and the umpires  as well as a training room and an equipment room. Those facilities would be shared with the KU soccer team, which plays at adjacent SuperTarget Field.

“Overall, it’s a $4 million project,” Bunge said. “We don’t have the additional funding yet, but we’re optimistic good things will happen for us.”

Womack has also pledged $100,000 to the Williams Educational Fund for student-athlete scholarships.

“Her generosity and leadership are inspirational,” Chancellor Robert Hemenway said, adding Womack’s $2 million donation will “give KU a new way to shine.”