Riverside, Calif. (Jan. 27, 2023) – California Baptist University won second place for its soccer and softball fields at the Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful’s annual Beautification Awards. The awards were announced during the mayor’s State of the City address held Jan. 26.

CBU won in the category of New Construction with Landscaping.

Connie Librenjak, executive director of KRCB, presented the awards. KRCB is a community-sponsored program by the City of Riverside and the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce. Kent Dacus, vice president for Enrollment and Student Services, accepted the honor on behalf of the university.

The new soccer field debuted in the 2022 soccer season. The $3.9 million CBU Soccer Stadium includes bleachers that can seat 520 people with space for overflow crowds and a covered, open-air press box. The field features hybrid Bermuda grass and 90-foot-tall stadium lighting for night games.

In the field’s first season, CBU hosted the 2022 Western Athletic Conference Tournament. And in the Lancers' inaugural season of Division I postseason eligibility, the men’s soccer team won the championship. The men ended the season with a 11-7-3, 4-3-2 record. The women’s team also had a successful season, making it into the Western Athletic Conference Tournament. They ended the season with an 8-5-5, 5-3-3 record.

Meanwhile, the John C. Funk Softball Stadium at CBU underwent a makeover during the summer of 2022. The 32,000-square-foot outfield of hybrid Bermuda grass was replaced with AstroTurf for approximately $500,000.

The change was made primarily for the safety of players and for them to be able to play consistently yearlong. Additional reasons included aesthetics, durability and less maintenance.

The softball team wrapped up its 2022 season with a record of 30-26 and 12-12 in league play, letting the Lancers finish the season in third place in the divisional standings. With a new field to play on, the team again hopes to hit the upcoming season out of the park. The first home game is Feb. 15.