Players excited about first game on new turf
2/23/2016 8:35:00 AM | Baseball, Bearkat Champions Fund
The Sam Houston baseball team plays its first game on the new 183,040-square foot Astro Turf surface at Don Sanders Stadium when the Bearkats host UTSA Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
The new field, combining the look, feel and performance of a traditional grass and clay diamond, will require little maintenance and allow play in virtually any weather condition. A season ago, the Bearkats were pushed to nine doubleheaders and had two game cancellations.
No one is more excited about the new turf than the Bearkats themselves.
“It's been great,” senior infielder Spence Rahm from Tomball said. “It's a beautiful turf that plays perfect with no bad hops.”
The Sam Houston players have enjoyed working on the surface daily and look forward to not having to deal with rain delays and weather problems.
“Every time during a rain delay, we would have to take out the tarp and put it on. It was a hassle,” Rahm said. “Once the rain quit, you had to take out the tarp, get all the water out and make sure everything is good to go. It was a lot of work that's now been eliminated.”
The players like the feel of the new surface as well.
“The ball stays down on the ground a lot more. It's a lot faster,” sophomore outfielder Bryce Johnson from Cypress said. “I like this turf more than anything. In the outfield, it's fun because you can run speed wise.”
Installation of the new surface was completed earlier this winter thanks to the quality work of Burnside Services Incorporated (BSI) of Navasota, in conjunction with Ryan Sanders Sports Services of Round Rock.
The Don Sanders field turf project includes 105,340-square feet of green turf, 12,750-square feet of skin area and a warning track of 19,560-square feet. The entire surface is made up entirely of turf, including areas of the infield, warning track and foul territory where dirt used to lie.
The $1.4 million project, which took roughly 2 ½ months to complete, features logos painted in foul territory as well as the official 'SH Paw' logo placed boldly in center field.
“We are extremely thankful for our partnership with Burnside Services as well as Ryan Sanders, who have each played an integral role in the latest upgrades to our facility,” Bobby Williams, director of athletics said. “This project could also have not been possible without generous gifts from an exceptional group as well as the support of our university president, Dana G. Hoyt, university advancement and numerous others.”
Opened in February 2006, Don Sanders Stadium is recognized as one of the best NCAA Division I collegiate baseball facilities in the region and is the envy of the Southland Conference. In 2013, Sam Houston alumni Don Sanders and Bud Haney teamed up to bring a state-of-the-art video scoreboard to the stadium, elevating the fans' experience.
Since the opening of Don Sanders Stadium, Sam Houston's baseball teams have made six appearances in the NCAA regionals and won the Southland Conference regular season title three times in the last four years.
Championships are not given away. They are earned. And they come at a price.
Bearkat Champion annual fund dollars go toward enhancing the student-athlete experience specifically in the areas of academic, athletic training and medical and strength and conditioning services as well as helping with the rising costs of tuition, room and board, equipment and travel and facilities. Every dollar donated to the Bearkat Champions fund counts.
The need for more improvements to keep Sam Houston in the forefront of intercollegiate athletics in the Southwest is on-going.
Membership in the Bearkat Champions Fund helps the athletic program but also provides individual benefits.
A minimum investment of $100 each year earns individuals priority towards NCAA playoff games, premium road contests like the Battle of the Piney Woods tickets, season ticket seating location, premium parking and invitation-only special events.
Supporters become part of the team by helping Sam Houston accomplish its goal of defining the term "student-athlete" while enjoying the benefits of being a Bearkat Champion.
