Bowling Green, KY, September 26, 2016 – WKU is looking for more play and less delay when their baseball team takes the field next season. To get a leg up on Mother Nature, Nick Denes Field is getting a facelift with a brand new, state-of-the-art AstroTurf® Diamond Series playing surface. Installation of the multi-tiered artificial turf field finished at the end of August.
Sports Construction Management, a certified AstroTurf distributor, handled the artificial turf conversion process, which included site work and drainage construction that started in June. In fact, the new playing surface will enable the Hilltoppers to utilize the field with much more regularity, even in inclement weather. That’s important when considering that 11 of the 15 home series for WKU were affected by weather conditions that caused game cancellations or delays over the last two seasons, not to mention lost practice time.
“It’s great for our players and for the program,” said WKU Head Coach John Pawlowski. “We just want to have an opportunity to practice and play, and we’ll be practicing and playing on one of the finest facilities in the country now.”
The cutting edge artificial turf that will soon cover Nick Denes Field is comprised of two distinct synthetic turf systems developed by AstroTurf. The Diamond Series 3D3 covers the outfield and 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 Diamond Series 3Di is a proprietary fiber blend with shorter pile height that accurately emulates the look and feel of clay. The 3Di turf is used for base paths, warning tracks, batter’s box and pitching mound. All of the elements of the playing surface have been engineered for optimal ball bounce, underfoot feel, playability, and durability.
“This new AstroTurf field is identical to those used by both professional organizations and top collegiate programs nationwide,” said WKU Athletic Director Todd Stewart. “It elevates our baseball program on many levels.”
AstroTurf’s next generation baseball surfaces have grown increasingly popular in the college game. In fact, since 2009 more Division I baseball programs have chosen AstroTurf than all other synthetic turf brands combined. These fields combine the look, feel, and performance of a traditional grass and clay diamond while requiring far less maintenance. In addition, the advanced drainage systems and durable surfacing allow teams to play and practice in difficult weather conditions, a huge plus for college teams whose seasons begin much earlier than their professional counterparts. AstroTurf synthetic turf baseball surfaces can be found all over the country, including at Hawkins Field, home of the 2014 College World Series Champion Vanderbilt Commodores.
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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 recently redesigned website at www.astroturf.com.