Fresh green turf shines on the newly remodeled $4 million baseball field as Falcon players step between the foul lines this spring.
Refurbished dugouts are packed with players awaiting their walk to home plate, where they stand ready and proud with the word Falcons written in large red text on the turf behind them.
To sophomore varsity player Samanyu Ram, the new field has boosted the pride of the team.
“It’s great that we now have something to call home territory,” Ram said. “We feel even more motivated to defend it against opponents.”
Captain Lucas Dennis, a senior who plays shortstop and is also the team’s top pitcher, said the new field also greatly improves upon player safety. The old grass field that dated back to the 1960s featured noticeable dips and imperfections, which often led athletes to trip and sustain injuries such as rolled ankles.
“From a safety standpoint, the new turf is a lot safer than grass, and we expect to see fewer field-related injuries this season,” Dennis said.
In addition, Dennis said the field was completed at the perfect time given the unusually heavy rain this season. With the old field, a rainstorm would put the field out of commission for days as the surface would be deemed too slippery and muddy to safely conduct practices or games. With the newly renovated field, the turf can dry in a matter of hours or even minutes because of vastly superior drainage.
“We’ve lost minimal playtime, which is really beneficial to our training, and it definitely sets us up for an advantage over other teams which practice on grass fields,” Dennis said.
Sophomore pitcher and outfielder Aiden Chen also found the dugouts to be a big improvement from the ones in the old field, which were often small and unable to fit everyone’s belongings.
“It has an almost pro-style design to it, and it is super exciting and fun,” Chen said. “With more space, the atmosphere has become much more comfortable.”
As the team showcases its skills on the new field, Chen said he wants to make baseball as widely celebrated as football is.
“We can hold our own against anybody, but the crowd’s energy feeds us even more. Let’s get as many people out to games as possible!” Chen said.
