After receiving more than 100 nominations for its Rebuild the Field 2.0 contest, Turface Athletics selected four programs to win $1,000 in product credit to be spent on field maintenance supplies with their local Turface distributor. The four winners are Anthony Boarman, George Sisler Field, Akron, Ohio; Kristy Leal, Betty Morrell Softball Field, Mercedes High School, Mercedes, Texas; Daniel Nobbs, Culpepper County High School Baseball Field, Culpepper, Va.; and Kory Pollard, Mark Pollard Field, Carl Albert State College, Poteau, Okla.
Winners were selected by a panel of judges based on the need for maintenance supplies and the impact the renovated field would have for the players and community.
“We hope these awards can play a small part in some big improvements to facilities in need, allowing athletes to participate on safe and playable fields next season,” said Jeff Langner, brand manager for Turface Athletics. “We received many deserving applications, and when you read the stories of these fields that have been through hurricanes, COVID challenges and more, you’ll see why each of these winners stood out to our team.”
George Sisler Field
Anthony Boarman is hoping to breathe new life into George Sisler Field, a neighborhood field that was once a gem in the community, but recently had been neglected. The field is in a low-income community and doesn’t have a school within its boundaries. Boarman is hopeful the scholarship will help them fix up the field while also getting the local youth interested in baseball again.
“It’s a great feeling to know that the funds from Turface’s Rebuild the Field contest will allow us to continue to enhance our field for our players and all of the young baseball players that will get to utilize our facility,” said Boarman.
Betty Morrell Softball Field
When Hurricane Hanna hit Texas in 2020, the field at Mercedes High School wasn’t spared. The pitching circle, batter’s boxes and catcher’s area need major improvements from fixing holes to weeding. Leal plans to use the funds to address these issues to create a safe and playable field for the Lady Tigers.
“Our coaching staff and maintenance department spend countless hours working on and maintaining our softball field,” said Leal. “Knowing that we will be given the best products to revamp and repair the playing surface the right way, provides us with a sense of relief and gratitude.”
Culpepper County High School Baseball Field
This 50-year-old field was once used for football practice and now takes on water damage every time it rains. While the program has done some maintenance to help with drainage, they haven’t had the resources to overcome this challenge. With this scholarship, Nobbs hopes to rebuild the field into a diamond the community can be proud of.
“We have a great facility in a great area that needs a little extra TLC that we are now going to be able to provide, and I cannot thank Turface enough,” said Nobbs.
Mark Pollard Field
When Kory Pollard took over management of this field nearly two years ago, there wasn’t an ounce of sand on it. The infield was built up with dirt, and despite efforts to renovate, he’s still pulling rocks out of the infield years later. Pollard says the scholarship money will help him to rebuild the field at Carl Albert State College to give the players there a field worthy of college baseball.
“Winning this contest will play a huge part into the renovations being done at Mark Pollard Field,” said Pollard. “Adding this new product to our infield will make it consistent and safe for our student athletes that play on it.”