Baseball Links

• Homepage
• Roster
• Coaches
• Recruiting
• News and Notes
• Schedule
• Stats
• Facilities
• Media Guides
• Pitching Camps
• Hitting Camps
• Kids Camp
  

TRUSLER SPORTS COMPLEX UNDERGOES MORE RENOVATIONS

Photo Galleries

January 9, 2009-Hornet baseball players will be able to spend more time in the class room and less time with a rake thanks in large part to the generosity of three Emporia State donors, one of whom wishes to remain anonymous.  The infield of the baseball diamond at Glennen Field in the Trusler Sports Complex will be replaced by a RamTurf artificial playing surface by ATG Sports of Andover, Kan. in time for the start of the 2009 baseball season.

The infield replacement continues improvements to the Trusler Sports Complex that began with the construction of the Hanna Family Clubhouse in 2006.  In addition to the turf project, new scoreboards will be installed at Glennen Field and Turnbull Field, the home of the ESU softball team.

"We are very grateful that people continue to support our athletic programs with these very generous gifts. This project will be completed entirely with private funds, donated specifically for this project," said ESU Director of Athletics Kent Weiser. "Not only will these improvements maintain the Trusler Sports Complex as one of the top baseball/softball complexes in the nation, ESU will be able to save money in reduced maintenance costs."

Currently the ESU baseball team is responsible for the game day maintenance and preparation of the field for competition.  This required the team to arrive at the ball park nearly hours prior to the first pitch to prepare and line the field.  During rain delays it was the team's responsibility to tarp the field and then work to dry the field.  

With the addition of the RamTurf surface, players will be able to get to the ball park, warm-up and play without the need to spend hours preparing the field.  ESU will also realize thousands of dollars in savings each year from not needing to purchase chalk, drying agents, sod, grass seed, mound clay and fertilizer for the infield.

"I want to thank everyone that has made this possible," said ESU baseball coach Bob Fornelli.  "Getting the artificial turf will help keep Trusler one of the top baseball complexes in the nation. We'll be able to schedule a lot more home games, since we won't be as tied down by the weather and the need to give the field a rest."

The RamTurf will resemble freshly mowed fescue in appearance, texture and color on the infield while the base paths and home plate area will be brown in color.  The turf will cover the entire infield area stretching from dugout to dugout on Glennen Field.

The scoreboards are provided by the Bill and Aloha Preston Family and will be state of the art Daktronics wireless scoreboards.  The boards will replace the scoreboards that have served the complex since its completion in 1994.

“Bill and I enjoyed many pleasant afternoons watching Hornet softball and baseball games and this will add to the enjoyment and quality of these events in the future," said Aloha Preston. "I look forward to seeing the scoreboards in place.”

The Trusler Foundation has been instrumental with the development of the complex from it's inception.  

“The Trusler Foundation is proud to once again team up with Emporia State University to make Emporia’s Trusler Sports Complex the best baseball/softball venue around," said Mike Turnbull, President of the Trusler Foundation. "This investment in the Emporia community, and in particular the Emporia State baseball program, will alleviate the majority of the cost and time put into maintaining a collegiate baseball field, as well as eliminate some of the inconveniences associated with Kansas weather."

Installation of the new turf began on January 5 with the removal of the old dirt and grass infield. The turf is expected to be completed by the start of the 2009 season. The scoreboards will be put in place at some point during the season by Coffelt Signs.

The #8 ESU baseball team is scheduled to open the 2009 season on Feb. 10 at Southwestern Oklahoma State in Weatherford, Okla.   The first game on the new turf is scheduled for Feb. 24 against Newman.  Hornet softball is set to open on Feb. 7 at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo.  The first home action for the softball team will be the ESU Spring Tournament March 13-15.

The Hornet baseball team was 50-10 in 2008 as they won the MIAA regular season title for the second time in three years and played in the MIAA Tournament Championship Game for the fifth time in six years.  The ESU softball team was the NCAA Division II Nationall Runners-up last season with a 48-17 record.  It was the second time in three years ESU has played for the national title after winning the MIAA regular season championship in each of the last four years.

###HORNETS##