Don Sanders Stadium Getting Major Facelift

The Huntsville Item (Sep. 27) reports on the the all-Astro Turf face lift over at Sanders Stadium.

Work has begun on installing an all-AstroTurf playing surface at Don Sanders Stadium and is expected to be finished before the end of December, just in time for the Bearkats’ first practice in January.  The outfield, infield and even the pitcher’s mound will all have turf surfaces.

The new playing surface has been made possible thanks to donors who wish to remain anonymous on a project worth $1.4 Million.

Last season, rain affected nine of the 14 weekends of the regular season, resulting in doubleheaders having to be played because of soggy conditions.  With AstroTurf being installed, lightning will be the only weather-related reason for delays or cancellations of games.

In preparation for work being done at Don Sanders Stadium, the Bearkats started fall practice early to get as much time at their home stadium as they can.

“We started on the first available date that you could start, which was September 1st,” [Sam Houston State baseball head coach Matt ] Deggs said. “We’re actually winding down our fourth week of practice already. We were able to have three and a half weeks out here. We were able to get out here some. We have a bunch of new guys, so that was important.  “Now, we hit here, then we go over to Holleman (Field). We’ve spent afternoons fixing it up and getting it ready. We love it out there. It gives us a chance to get back to our roots of Sam Houston State baseball.

“Without any unforeseen hiccups, it’s a 60-day process to build a base and a couple of weeks to lay down the turf. We have a target date of being able to get out (to Don Sanders Stadium) for our first practice in January.”