BOONE, N.C., Jan. 4, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Yet another NCAA baseball program has selected FieldTurf for installation at its stadium as Appalachian State became the most recent university to join the FieldTurf family. The announcement was made jointly by ASU Athletics Director Charlie Cobb and FieldTurf CEO John Gilman.
The FieldTurf installation at Appalachian State's newly named Jim and Betty Smith Baseball Stadium will be in place for the 2007 season. The Mountaineers will play their first home game on their new FieldTurf surface on March 10 when they host Farleigh Dickinson.
"FieldTurf's baseball business is booming, and we're very happy that Appalachian State has selected our product, which we believe is the finest in the world," said Gilman. "Just in recent days, FieldTurf's baseball product has been the choice of (Cal) Ripken Baseball and defending NCAA champion Oregon State. To add Appalachian State to that growing list is something that we're very happy about. The quality of the baseball played in the Southern Conference is top-notch, and this installation will give FieldTurf's baseball product additional exposure in a highly-competitive environment."
"We did our homework before making our decision to use FieldTurf as the new playing surface for Jim and Betty Smith Stadium," said Appalachian State Head Baseball Coach Chris Pollard. "There are several Division I baseball facilities that have installed FieldTurf as their playing surface and we spent a great deal of time talking with these programs, visiting their facilities and researching the FieldTurf product. Further proof of the quality of FieldTurf in my mind is the fact that Cal Ripken installed FieldTurf on all the fields in his new Cal Ripken Baseball Complex at Myrtle Beach. The durability is great, the playability is very comparable to sand-based natural grass fields and the drainage makes it very weather resistant. We will have the best playing surface in the Southern Conference without question. I am extremely appreciative of the commitment our university, the athletics department and Charlie (Cobb) made to this new facility by installing FieldTurf."
In addition to the colleges and minor league teams that utilize FieldTurf for baseball, MLB's Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays play all of their home games on FieldTurf.
FieldTurf is the result of years of research -- evident in the patented FieldTurf infill mix of silica sand and cryogenic rubber and patented layering process that deliver a system that emulates natural grass. Additional benefits are found in improved player safety, reduced maintenance costs and flexibility for conversion -- allowing stadium managers to quickly change the field from one sport to another or to easily host a variety of sporting events, concerts and other special events directly on top of the FieldTurf surface.
Over the past few years, the quality and performance of FieldTurf's patented system has resulted in over 1900 installations in more than 40 countries. For more information on FieldTurf, please visit www.fieldturf.com or call (800) 724-2969.