Decatur, IL – Millikin University has just completed the construction of their new on-campus baseball stadium and it is truly a thing of beauty. The new baseball facility located south of the Decatur Indoor Sports Center (DISC) includes an AstroTurf field, lights, press box, concessions and batting cages. Seating includes grand stand bleachers, seat back chairs and a patio area, all elevated above the AstroTurf synthetic surface.
Millikin University is now the only school in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) with an on-campus baseball-only facility with a full turf field and a clubhouse. With completion of the Workman Family Baseball Field, the university now has the distinction of being one of the top facilities in the country for NCAA Division III baseball and softball programs.
Millikin’s new field features the AstroTurf Diamond Series RBI System which includes multiple artificial turf components that have been specifically engineered to emulate the look, feel, and performance of both the grass and clay portions of a baseball field. Diamond Series turf systems from AstroTurf® are well-known throughout the sport of baseball for delivering the ultimate in playability, durability and ballpark aesthetics. The AstroTurf Diamond Series is the preferred system of choice for schools at every level. For example, well over fifty Division 1 Baseball schools are playing on the Diamond Series which accounts for more than all of the other synthetic turf company’s D1 Baseball installations combined.
“We couldn’t be more impressed with how our new AstroTurf field feels and how it plays”, said Brandon Townsend, Millikin University Head Coach. “Our
guys are in love with it. There’s not a bad hop out there. We don’t have to worry about a tarp anymore, it could rain right now and we would be ready to go. There are just so many fewer concerns with this field. The process was just amazing and we couldn’t be happier with the product.”
The entire design of the field was well-thought out and there was great attention to detail in planning for the purpose and performance of the surface. The outfield is designed for multi-use and can accommodate a 300’ long practice soccer field and a 270’ long practice football field. The infield has been calibrated to provide the speed of play best fitting the desired play of Millikin University baseball. Also, areas of the field are specifically designed to be removed and replaced annually at areas of high use including the pitcher’s mound and the batter’s box.
Coach Townsend added, “In the present….This stadium will set the standard for baseball facilities around the country that schools will strive to achieve. For the future…This amazing facility will help raise our program, recruiting and enhance our student-athlete experience for many years.”
Mid-America Sports Construction of Lee’s Summit, MO expertly installed the field at Millikin. Mid-America is AstroTurf’s exclusive distributor in the central region of the United States. MASC offers turn-key services, self-performing crews, complex project expertise, long-term commitment, full maintenance services and quick response times. Mid-America Construction is truly AstroTurf’s “Heart” in the “Heartland”.
Millikin University becomes a member of a long list of AstroTurf Diamond Series customers that include elite programs such as Vanderbilt, Michigan, Kentucky, Duke, Ohio State, Washington State, West Virginia and many, many more.
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. To learn more, visit AstroTurf’s website at www.astroturf.com.