NATCHEZ — It’s been a long wait for Adams County Christian softball coach Forrest Foster, but the end result has left him proud.

For the first time, the Lady Rebels will play their home games underneath the bright lights, thanks to several lighting fixtures that were installed at the softball complex Wednesday.

“We’ve been waiting two years,” Foster said. “We had the poles delivered back then, but some red tape came up that we had to go through.

“We finally got the lights on the poles about four to six weeks ago, we’ve just been waiting for people to not get busy so they could come put the poles up.”

If there’s anything he’s learned from this, Foster said, it’s that patience pays off.

“There wasn’t any frustration on the part of donations, we just had a ditch (on one side of the field) that was really bad, and it took a while to fill,” Foster said.

“We couldn’t get anything done by Entergy until that ditch was filled, and they got the transformers installed about six weeks ago.”

The new lighting system is one of several upgrade projects to the ACCS softball field that Foster has undertaken since becoming coach five years ago.

“When I started out, we didn’t have restrooms or a concession stand, and we built that a year and half ago off of fundraisers and volunteer labor,” Fosters said. “It was all from local volunteers.

“We just got through putting a sprinkler system in, and that has nine water stations that water this field automatically.”

In addition, Foster said he lowered the outfield fence’s height so fans would have the option of watching the game with air conditioning.

“They can pull up behind (the left and center field fence) in their cars and watch the game with the air conditioner on,” Foster said. “Before, you had to park your car way back, because you couldn’t see over the fence. We’re just trying to take into consideration the time of year we play.”

With all the efforts to make the ACCS softball complex better, Foster said the reason he does it is for his players’ benefit.

“I own my own business, but I spend a lot of time out here,” Foster said. “If it wasn’t for the families of the kids that play, this couldn’t have happened. I also get a lot of help from (assistant coach) Mike Powell, and he’s been tremendous.”

Foster is especially thankful for the help from Mike and Chris Sanders, whose daughter Mary played for Foster before graduating from ACCS last spring.

“They pressure washed the fence, and their daughter isn’t even here anymore,” Foster said. “They said they wanted to stay involved. Since their daughter started playing for me, I’ve never had a work day that they haven’t been here for.”

Foster said he has high hopes for this year’s squad, even though his pitching will be young.

“We played summer ball in Vidalia, and that was strictly for practice,” Foster said. “We don’t worry about wins and losses; we might have one game where all we did was bunt for practice.

“We should have one of the best defenses we’ve ever had, and we should be a good hitting club. Our pitching will be young, but they’re working hard, so they should be OK.”

ACCS opens July 29 against Wilkinson County Christian.