MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama is replacing the infield at Eddie Stanky Field, the first such overhaul of the playing surface since the ballpark opened in the 1980s, athletics director Joel Erdmann said.
The project comes ahead of the 2014 Sun Belt Conference baseball championship, which will be played in Mobile next spring.
Original Surface Showing Its Age
Erdmann said that, to his knowledge, the infield being replaced was the original surface from when Eddie Stanky Field was built. He credited the grounds crew for maintaining it, but said the surface had developed swells over time, had begun to lose its shape and did not drain well in rain.
What the Work Includes
Crews have stripped the entire playing surface, removing the infield clay and all of the grass. The old soil is being replaced with healthier, more fertile soil blended with an appropriate mix of sand.
The infield is also being reshaped to match standard dimensions. When the work is finished, the field will have dirt basepaths running from home plate to first base and from third base to home, which the field did not previously have.
Erdmann said South Alabama already had a good playing surface but that the program should have a Major League-caliber field. He cited player safety as a factor and noted that the quality of a playing surface matters in baseball and is something recruits notice.
Cost and Funding
Erdmann said the infield renovation will cost “in the neighborhood of $40,000.” The project is being paid for with “external money” raised by the Jaguar Athletic Club and other outside sources.
Previous Upgrades
The infield work follows earlier improvements to the stadium. A major renovation in 2004-05 added a new press box, new stands, a stadium club, concession stands and restrooms, among other upgrades. In 2011, the university added a new outfield wall, renovated the dugouts and bullpens and relocated home plate.
Erdmann said he took extensive notes on the stadium in Omaha, Neb., while attending the College World Series and applied those ideas at Eddie Stanky Field.
Coming Off NCAA Regional Season
The Jaguars are coming off a 2013 season in which they went 43-20 overall, including 23-8 at home, and advanced to the NCAA Regional in Starkville, Miss.
