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ULM Baseball Installing FieldTurf as Warhawk Field Renovation Begins

ULM Baseball Installing FieldTurf as Warhawk Field Renovation Begins

Baseball Oct 01
FieldTurf Renderings
 
FieldTurf Installation (B-roll)
 
Warhawk Field Renovation (initial 3D rendering)
 
By ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist Paul Letlow

When inclement weather turned Warhawk Field into a bog last spring, the ULM baseball team spent 17 consecutive days practicing inside Malone Stadium.

On numerous other occasions in recent years, ULM was forced to cancel, reschedule or change times for games because of rain and unplayable field conditions.

"It was a challenge on day-to-day basis," ULM coach Michael Federico said.

The Warhawk Field renovation project should make those hardships a thing of the past while enhancing the baseball experience for coaches, student-athletes and fans.

Now underway, the $1.4 million investment in the facility will include a FieldTurf playing surface in the outfield and infield while adding premium field-level seating behind home plate.

"I'm excited to team up with FieldTurf and we're going to have a great product," Federico said. "We're doing some modifications to the field that will be neat for the players and also for the fans."

ULM Director of Athletics Scott McDonald said grassroots fundraising brought in about $400,000 to help make the renovation possible.

"The community stepped up, particularly with a lot of former baseball players stepping forward," McDonald said. "We've been working on it for quite some time and were able to get it together with a great community partner like the Convention and Visitors Bureau and then working with the Facilities Corp, we were able to get it together and tackle a big project."

Funding for the project included a $300,000 grant from the Monroe/West Monroe Convention and Visitors Bureau. The more durable FieldTurf surface will also allow ULM to host more community or youth baseball tournaments in the future.

"Alana Cooper and Scott Bruscato with the Convention and Visitors Bureau have been amazing for us," Federico said. "(Former President Nick) Dr. Bruno was instrumental in this to kind of get it started. Dr. Ron Berry has just jumped right on board with it.

"Of course, I can't say enough about Athletics Director Scott McDonald and what he's done, not only me but the entire athletic department behind the scenes."

McDonald noted that former baseball coach Lou St. Amant made the largest individual donation while making countless telephone calls to assist the fundraising effort.

"He made the largest gift and has been calling people and helping all along the way," McDonald said. "He's been very supportive of this program and very supportive of Coach Federico. His impact on this university continues."

McDonald added that former ULM coaches Smoke Laval, Brad Holland and Jeff Schexnaider were all willing to contact former players to help fund the effort.

Although ULM baseball played on a natural grass surface at Warhawk Field since it opened in 1983, original plans called for an artificial surface for the infield. For St. Amant, helping upgrade the present-day venue brought him full circle.

"We have to keep up with the times and recruiting," St. Amant said. "The field since 1983 hasn't been redone, so we had to raise money for this turf. I know I gave a big chunk myself. But it was worth it, because it's going to be great for the school and great for the baseball program."

Warhawk Field will now feature DoublePlay Speed in the infield and DoublePlay Natural in the outfield.

"The infield will play a little more like a natural surface," Federico said. "The outfield is a little bit thicker so the ball is not as fast getting through. They've got so much technology. That's why I wanted to partner up with FieldTurf. They've done so much research on that."

Additional changes include relocation of the bullpens, which should improve sightlines and the game-day experience. Federico expects the project to be completed by mid-December.

"I think about three things every day from the standpoint of this baseball program," Federico said. "This is going to help with recruiting, to be able to show the facility upgrades there.

"It's going to help with fan support, because it's going to be a little bit more of the friendly confines. And I think it's going help with fundraising. We've got to continue to keep fundraising, because there's more and more things we'll have to keep doing with the facility."

The new field-level area behind home plate will offer ULM fans a view they've never enjoyed before at Warhawk Field. The backstop will be just 40 feet away from the plate, putting onlookers right on the umpire's hip.

"Fans will be really, really close to the action," Federico said. "To start, it will be a concrete patio and then we'll plan on putting some seats in there. We'll have some picnic tables, some high-top tables where people can socialize. We've got some plans for the future to put some more permanent seating back there. But to start it will be more like a lounge."

With the bullpens moving, the fences will also be closer to the foul lines and make for a cozier environment. ULM's home bullpen will be relocated between the weight room and the batting cages and can be utilized as a pitching lab area.

The improved amenities should aid in player development, with the ability to spend more time on the playing field with access not solely dictated by weather.

"From a practice management standpoint, if it's raining, then we can go at a different time," Federico said. "We can adjust our schedules and make it work."

Said St. Amant: "Coach Fed and his staff have worked hard and made a lot of improvements. There's a weight room underneath that he built too. It's just been an ongoing thing. Now with the turf, it will bring it full circle."

The baseball coaching staff will also be required to spend less time on field maintenance and have more time working with student-athletes. Over time, ULM should see significant savings on fertilizer, seed and other costs associated with maintaining a grass field.

Federico noted that many players ULM recruits have grown up playing on turf fields, so the changes at Warhawk Field will allow for a smooth transition.

"I'm really looking forward to this," Federico said. "I think it's going to be great for the community and great for our University. It will be a great advertisement for us with a lot of things. I think the future is definitely bright. This will help us in getting recruits and developing them when they get here. Then they'll want to come back and donate money as graduates."

• Sports Contractors Unlimited LLC, owned by Tommy Shook, is the contractor handling the dirt and drainage portion of the project.

• ARE Consultants, Inc., is the engineering firm ULM contracted to design the field, a project spearheaded by engineer Joel Ford.

According to information provided on FieldTurf.com, a synthetic surface has five major advantages over grass.

TRUE PLAYABILITY AND PREDICTABILITY
FieldTurf DoublePlay systems were designed to allow bounces and hops to play consistent regardless of where the ball hits, allowing players on both teams to anticipate ball movement on an even playing field.

REDUCED MAINTENANCE AND LESS ABRASION
The primary challenges of maintaining a baseball field come from the infield and the dirt, which is why many facility owners opt to install a synthetic infield and baselines first, while keeping natural grass in the outfield — at least for the time being. FieldTurf's high-performance DoublePlay fibers, which combine the biomechanical properties of natural grass with a durable synthetic system, have been proven to be less abrasive than other surfaces when sliding.

FEWER RAINOUTS
A FieldTurf DoublePlay surface, which is designed for all-weather playability and ready for action during even the heaviest of rainfalls, can reduce rainouts drastically.

EARLIER START AND LATER FINISH TO THE SEASON
Teams on turf can practice outside earlier and later than their grass-field rivals. Turf also allows coaches and players to use the entire field for drills and other practice activities without worrying about overusing certain sections. A synthetic surface also allows for added availability for surrounding communities.
 
 
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