A Letter from St. Cloud State

Baseball Coach Pat Dolan

Now is the time to move on this important project! The past recession is all but behind us and we now have many people on board with our #1 goal of getting a Central Minnesota turfed field. My thoughts from 2008 have not changed. During this time many other communities have implemented their plans for a turf field. Now is the time... I challenge us all to move forward and make this a reality in Central Minnesota!

Central Minnesota and St. Cloud State University has enjoyed a rich tradition of excellence when it comes to the sport of baseball. Over the years, this area has been blessed with outstanding athletes and quality baseball facilities that have allowed the sport to prosper.

In 2008, I was provided the opportunity to guide the SCSU baseball and help the Huskies build on the foundation of excellence that has been a hallmark of the program.

SCSU has enjoyed the good fortune of playing its home schedule each spring on the fields at St. Cloud's Municipal Athletic Complex (Joe Faber Field and Dick Putz Field), which offers the Huskies one of the finest playing facilities in NCAA Division II baseball.

Two of the issues that continue to hamper the success of the SCSU baseball program are an effective outdoor practice facility and the early spring weather in Minnesota.

Fortunately, there is a potential solution to these two problems that face the Huskies and that solution is a state-of- the-art sport turf surface.

The installation of a sport turf surface would be a boon to baseball throughout the region. The surface would not be subject to the wear-and-tear so common to natural grass fields, thus it could be used for both games and practice situations by numerous teams.

This area's fickle weather, especially in the early spring and late fall, is another solid reason for the creation of a sport turf baseball facility. Veteran's Field in Minnetonka is a perfect example of the benefits of a sport turf facility and its ability to extend the baseball playing season. In 2009, Veteran's Field has already hosted games beginning in mid-March while most of the fields in Central Minnesota were snow covered or water-logged. The sport turf surface allows for the field to be brushed off and no standing water or snow piles means games can be played instead of postponed.

Make no mistake, this is not the artificial turf that was used in the 1970s through the 1990s. Those "astroturf" surfaces we known to cause injuries and did not provide true playing conditions for baseball. Our players have had the opportunity to play on the "new" sport turf surfaces at Minnetonka and in the Minneapolis Metrodome, and they just rave about the quality and true bounces that the sport turf surface provides at both locations.

In addition to the sport of baseball, this type of surface would also provide a multi-purpose facility for other sports in need of a durable and quality playing surface such as soccer, lacrosse and football for our area youth.

Yes, the time is now to move forward with the creation of a sport turf surface baseball facility in Central Minnesota. The benefits provided by the creation of such a facility would help carry on the tradition of excellence enjoyed by all levels of baseball in this region.

If you are interested in helping this project move forward, please feel free to call me at 320-308-3541 or e-mail me at pldolan@stcloudstate.edu

GO HUSKIES!
Coach Pat Dolan

A Collection of Images from Turf Facilities that SCSU has played on in recent years::

• Images from the baseball complex in Jacksonville, Ill., where SCSU played on March 4-5, 2011
• A collection of images of the Washburn University facility (2010)
• A collection of images of the Veteran's Field baseball complex in Minnetonka (March 2009)

A Collection of Support Material for the Central Minnesota Baseball Field Turf Initiative:

• Josh Vorpahl's Turf Testimonial
• Chris Koenig's Turf Talk
• Mike Bell's Testimonial on Field Turf in Central Minnesota
• What Do the Players Think - Testimonials about Field Turf from the Huskies (April 2009)
• What Do the SCSU Coaches Think - Testimonials about Field Turf from the SCSU Coaches (April 2009)
• A list of Field Turf Facilities in the Region
• University Chronicle Story Featuring Coach Dolan's insights on field turf (April 2, 2009)
• St. Cloud Times article featuring Coach Dolan and his thoughts on field turf (Sept. 22, 2008)
• FieldTurf Baseball Brochure (PDF)
• Testimonials about FieldTurf surfaces (PDF)
• Cost Comparison of FieldTurf vs. Grass (PDF)
• 10-year Cost Analysis of FieldTurf (PDF)

Watch the Video!

The Central Minnesota Baseball Field Turf Initiative Video (QuickTime file) - This is a large file, so it will take time to download for viewing.

Another look at the FieldTurf surface at Veteran's Field in Minnetonka. The only area of the field not covered with the FieldTurf surface is the pitcher's mound. All other areas, including the base paths and batter's box are covered with the FieldTurf surface.

A Quote from the Coach:
“In recent years, we have been very fortunate to get early season games in on field turf facilities in the upper Midwest. We have played games on turf fields at Minnetonka, Washburn, Kansas and in Jacksonville, Ill.," SCSU coach Pat Dolan said. "These facilities provide excellent playing surfaces that really handle the types of weather handed to us in Central Minnesota..

" This is something we really need in Central Minnesota in the future. A field turf facility would help the sport grow in Central Minnesota and it would be an outstanding resource for our entire community.”

For Information on how to help support the Central Minnesota Field Turf Initiative, please call Coach Pat Dolan at 320-308-3541 or e-mail him at pldolan@stcloudstate.edu