Longview, WA – David Story Field has been called the gem of the Lower Columbia College campus, and now it has a spectacular new diamond. LCC recently upgraded their showcase baseball stadium with a state-of-the-art AstroTurf® baseball field. The new playing surface arrives in anticipation of the NWAC Baseball Championship Tournament, which will be hosted by the school in May.
Although the home of the Red Devils will retain a natural grass outfield, the whole infield has been resurfaced with AstroTurf’s Diamond Series baseball products. The Diamond Series features a range of products that are engineered to optimize the playability of each unique area of the baseball field.
The RootZone Diamond Blend covers the infield “grass” portions of the field, and it is comprised of a unique combination of high micron monofilament fibers for structural integrity, slit film fibers for durability, and the patented RootZone fibers for infill consistency. The RootZone Diamond-i is a proprietary fiber blend with shorter pile height that accurately emulates the look and feel of clay. This specialized turf will cover Story Field’s base paths, batter’s box and pitching mound. All of the elements of the playing surface have been engineered for optimal ball bounce, underfoot feel, and durability.
“The previous configuration of Story Field included artificial turf infield with dirt base baths, and that led to some issues over time,” said LCC Athletic Director Kirc Roland. “AstroTurf’s Diamond Series turf system gives us everything we’re looking for across performance, aesthetics and low maintenance. We’re thrilled with the outcome.”
Coast-to-Coast Turf, a certified AstroTurf distributor, handled installation of the new baseball diamond. The project was completed on January 27th, and included improved drainage that should help eliminate the need for tarping the infield due to rain, a regular occurrence in the wet Pacific Northwest.
Venerable David Story Field has attracted national tournaments in part because of its old-school charm. The facility’s grandstand is comprised of stadium seating from the original home of the Seattle Pilots, and the field features a fan-favorite party deck off of left field. But the venue also boasts modern amenities, including stadium lighting, enclosed press boxes, indoor batting cages and now a cutting edge AstroTurf baseball diamond.
About AstroTurf®
For athletes and sport enthusiasts, AstroTurf® has redefined the way the game is played. The brand offers advanced, state-of-the-art, multi-sport and specialized synthetic turf systems with proprietary engineered technologies. A growing number of high schools, colleges, professional sports teams and municipalities continue to select AstroTurf-branded products for their premium quality, technical superiority, and safety.