In an effort to better accommodate baseball and softball practices, Georgetown has begun construction on new batting cages next to Kehoe Field.

A graduate who wished to remain anonymous donated the money for the project, which aims to create on-campus space for batting and pitching practice, although the teams will still need to travel to practice fielding on an actual diamond.

Dan Capeless, a sophomore first baseman with the baseball team, said that the team, which plays its home games at Shirley Povich Field in Rockville, Md., currently travels in vans five days a week to fields about 15 minutes away from campus. The team has practiced only one day a week in an old cage in the corner of Kehoe Field, which he said has “basically just fallen to the ground.”

The softball team plays its games at Guy Mason Field in north Georgetown.

Brian McGuire, assistant director of operations and facilities for the athletic department, said the new facilities will include six cages with pitchers’ mounds.

McGuire said the project has been “in plans for over a year” and is currently in its final stages. The cages, which were modeled after those at Yale University, are expected to be utilized shortly, although lights will not be installed until October.

The space being used for the cages was formerly occupied by viewing stands which were removed three years ago due to their rusty and dangerous condition.

Karen Frank, vice president for facilities and student housing, said the cages will be completed within the next two weeks.

McGuire said that access to the cages would likely be limited to the baseball and softball teams but that a final decision has not yet been reached.