Athletic Facilities
One of the advantages of a 68-acre campus is the opportunity to grow and to offer venues that can accommodate home athletic events. As Pinecrest settled into its permanent home in 1997, we were able to begin building top-notch facilities, all of which have seen many historic games, and will continue to serve Paladin athletes for decades to come. Our campus houses Pinnacle Field (football, lacrosse, and soccer), Father’s Field (baseball), an Upper School Gym, John Paul II Lower School Activities Building (Lower School Gym), Via Et Victoria Cross Country Trail, and Campo Grande (middle school and recreational soccer).
Cross Country Trail
Pinecrest’s cross country trail debuted in 2006 and was the site of the school’s first invitational cross country meet on September 21, 2006. Coach Roy Benson, a long-time Marist Coach, helped Pinecrest develop the course. Jim DuBos, a generous major donor, named the course, Via Et Victoria – “The Path and the Victory” – along with the big hill, affectionately known as “Sanctity Hill.”
The course was refurbished in October 2021, which included a trail blessing ceremony. The entire path was sprinkled with holy water by Fr. Matthew Kaderabek, who accomplished this feat aboard a moving Polaris! Members of Pinecrest’s Campus Ministry team, along with students and missionaries, buried miraculous medals all along the course.
Pinnacle Field
Our original varsity athletic field, which debuted for play in 2003, was converted from sod to turf in 2019. It was the first major improvement project in over 10 years for our Athletic program. Upgrading to turf provided solutions to weather cancellations and scheduling conflicts that came with having a sod field, while offering savings in maintenance costs, set-up, and field lining.
Dedicated, blessed, and played on for the very first time on September 13, 2019, an official ribbon cutting ceremony christened the upgraded field. The celebration included Coach Charles Wiggins, our first Varsity Football Coach, alumni, parents of alumni, current families, staff, benefactors, board members, and friends of Pinecrest Academy. Pinnacle Design/Build Group, the new field’s creator and namesake, also participated in the ribbon cutting event.
Varsity and Middle School sports utilize Pinnacle Field year-round.
Dedicated, blessed, and played on for the very first time on September 13, 2019, an official ribbon cutting ceremony christened the upgraded field. The celebration included Coach Charles Wiggins, our first Varsity Football Coach, alumni, parents of alumni, current families, staff, benefactors, board members, and friends of Pinecrest Academy. Pinnacle Design/Build Group, the new field’s creator and namesake, also participated in the ribbon cutting event.
Varsity and Middle School sports utilize Pinnacle Field year-round.
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Father's Field
Our baseball field, called Father’s Field, was designed by Ed Mangan, alumni parent, and long-time Field Director for the Atlanta Braves. The field boasts a deep centerfield of 365 feet maintained with underground irrigation using water from a well dug on the property. A total of 2,300 tons of sand was hauled in to prepare the ground, along with 160 tons of crushed granite. Upon completion of the project, Father’s Field was dedicated on March 24, 2007.
The name “Father’s Field” allowed all to honor the importance of the role that fathers hold in the family, and was significantly important to Pinecrest alumni parents, Paige and Bill Brown, who lost their fathers very young. The Browns also wanted to honor spiritual fathers, in particular, Pinecrest priests who help so many grow in faith.
Through a generous donation in 2017, athletics was able to enclose the batting cage so that it could be used during cold and inclement weather.
The name “Father’s Field” allowed all to honor the importance of the role that fathers hold in the family, and was significantly important to Pinecrest alumni parents, Paige and Bill Brown, who lost their fathers very young. The Browns also wanted to honor spiritual fathers, in particular, Pinecrest priests who help so many grow in faith.
Through a generous donation in 2017, athletics was able to enclose the batting cage so that it could be used during cold and inclement weather.
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Campo Grande
This soccer field, located just above the varsity athletic field and adjacent to the baseball field, was dedicated in August 2007. Many children have played the game of soccer on Campo Grande, a multi-use field surrounded by green space. A sign at the field provides the history of its name and how it was made possible:
Campo Grande, “big field” in Italian, evokes the fruitful fields of Italy where children play soccer as soon as they can walk, where “calcio” is a way of life, and where the Catholic Church grew as a treasure in a fertile field.
May all who come here, players and spectators, find the treasure in this field: the virtue that is forged through honest competition, the camaraderie inspired by working together for a common purpose, the courage needed to defend, the perseverance needed to achieve the desired goal…
In a world in which we can perhaps see young people marked by sadness and negative experiences, you must be for them wise friends, expert guides and coaches, not only on the soccer field, but also on the paths which lead toward the true values of life...May the Lord Jesus help you score this goal, the final goal, which is the true and ultimate destiny of life. ~ Pope John Paul II to the Milan Championship Soccer Team
This field was made possible through the generosity of the donors to the 2005 Year-end Fields Major Gift Appeal and the 2007 Gala Fund the Cause. Dedicated by Mrs. Franca Oreffice, grandmother of Pinecrest Academy students Kyle and Jillian Oreffice, on August 18, 2007.
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Upper School Gymnasium
Pinecrest Academy’s first gymnasium was dedicated on September 17, 2001, along with the Archbishop Donoghue Building (Middle School building). The beautiful two-level brick building features an upper atrium area and dining hall. A winding staircase leads to the lower atrium and the gymnasium. An elevator is located to the left of the staircase. The lower level also houses a concession stand. The gymnasium features a basketball court, stage, and locker rooms. In addition to basketball and volleyball games, the Upper School Gym also hosts all-school masses, theatrical arts and band performances, art shows, pep rallies, speaking engagements, and other events. The Gym also serves as the venue for our annual Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Exercises.
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John Paul II Lower School Activities Building
The John Paul II Lower School Activities Building (Lower School Gym) was dedicated and opened on October 4, 2011, on the Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi. The 7,500 square foot building was made possible by the generosity of 276 Pinecrest Academy families, including a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor. The building houses a gym, bleachers, elevated stage, and coaches offices.
A versatile multi-purpose building, the gym is utilized for a variety of events, including basketball games, P.E. classes, theatrical productions, art shows, dinner events, student dances, and faculty/staff meetings.
