Ohio University Baseball Field Rolls Out New Look
By: Gabe Genovesi
Posted on:
ATHENS, Ohio — Ohio Baseball has joined other MAC teams in a major playing-field upgrade.
A $600,000 renovation to the infield of Bob Wren stadium was completed Thursday, October 4. The infield dirt was replaced by artificial turf in time for fall baseball practice.
Head Coach Rob Smith, had the change in mind from the moment he took the job in 2012.
“We get more games in in terms of early season– rain doesn’t become a factor,” he said. “Obviously, practices are a big factor and that’s already played a role this fall. There probably would have been three or four practices we would have lost to rain.”
Other than the practical reasons for the change, one factor plays a bigger role in the decision: winning.
The Bobcats were 43-19 on artificial turf over Smith’s first two seasons at Ohio, and an artificial turf surface helps showcase the strengths of the team.
“How the field plays is another big factor,” he said. “Our system is built on pitching and defense and turf allows us to train better for that and then ultimately allows for a cleaner game to be played.”
Larry Nicholson, a 1970 graduate of Ohio and a former pitcher on the Ohio baseball team, was the lead donor for the project. “Nicholson Family Turf” is painted in white letters down the first-base line in foul territory.
“Larry Nicholson and his family have been awesome,” Smith said. “Him and his wife, Paige, have been significant contributors, not just to this project but to other things that we have done prior to it. His generosity has been outstanding.”
As for the players, there have not been any complaints about the new turf. Reigning MAC player of the year, Rudy Rott, said he believes the turf is easier to play on.
“As the game moves along, you’re not getting bad hops– the dirt isn’t getting uneven and turned up,” Rott said. “Scooping balls, there’s no more lip over at first-base which helps a lot. We had some lips and hard dirt depending on if it rained the night before or if it’s been dry. That’s all gone now.”