New Baseball Field - Appalachian State University

Here are three sets of pictures showing the construction of the new baseball stadium at Appalachian State University. The latest word is the field should be ready to play on in about 3 weeks - about March 19. The stands won't be finished until later in the year.

The field will be green turf everywhere except around home plate and the pitchers mound. The "infield dirt" area will have a different color to it (I assume brown) so it will look like a regular dirt infield.

Players will wear regular metal spikes on the field. They will slide on the turf just like they slide on dirt and grass.

Water will soak down through the turf/sand/rubber mixture into the rocks below and finally out the drainage system. I'm told the field will be playable within 10 minutes of rain stopping. (I'm keeping my fingers crossed!)

The field is located behind the Broyhill Center at the top of a hill. It is a beautiful setting with trees lining the outfield. The sun will set behind the right field end of the first base dugout so 3B, SS, and LF may have to battle the sun as it sets.

Can't wait to see the boys playing on the new field!

1. 12/6/2006 Pictures

2. 1/30/2007 Pictures

3. 2/26/2007 Pictures

You can view other pictures from ASU Baseball team games at: www.msd-pictures.blogspot.com
Just scroll down to the section titled 2007 - Baseball - Appalachian State University.

 

really?

sliding on the artificial turf??? no dirt except at the plate & mound?

looks like at least they would have included dirt cutouts at all 3 bases.

should be very interesting. anyone know of any other baseball fd's with this type of design??

 

Just a quick question as I haven't followed ASU very closely. Didn't they build a new field just a few years ago? What's the plan with it? Also, they must have some money rolling in or did the athletic department split up the payout from the 2 football national championships?

 

Navy, University of Louisville, and Washington State have similar fields.

I'm really curious about the kid's sliding on the turf too. But when you look at how it's constructed, it's really a 2 inch deep mixture of fine sand and fine rubber pellets with blades of artificial grass rising from the bottom to an inch above the mixture. So, there is really a lot of loose material to give way as the kids slide on it. Still, I'm sure it will take a while for the kids to get used to it.

 

The old baseball field will be used by the ASU softball team.

 

this is the new type of turf that is also used on football fields. Sliding on this stuff is not as bad as being tackled on it. For anyone who has seen this stuff you know there is nothing to be worried about

 

bases w/o dirt

yes, I am familiar w/ the new type of artificial turfgrass, called fieldturf. it is a much superior product to the old astroturf material.

I was just a little stunned to learn that the design was such that there would not be dirt cutouts at the bases. Never seen or heard of that before.

& a 2-tone artificial surface?? brown-colored infield ??

 

Cal Ripken's fields at Myrtle Beach have this same setup. Its pretty impressive.

 

Here's a pic of Navy's field to give you a little idea of how it looks - http://navysports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/050106aac.html?pic=2

 

No doubt...

It s gonna be nice, and I played on Navy's old field before renovations..Yet, as i perused over all the GREAT photos, I can t help but be struck by the lack of space between the foul (fair) lines and the fence WATCH OUT fielders I sense a few head bangers in the nar and distant future!!