Donor Support Provides Major Improvements for Hornet Baseball

After playing their first 16 games outside of Emporia, the Hornet baseball team made its home debut on the refurbished infield of Glennen Field at the Trusler Sports Complex with a 13-0 win over Fort Hays State on March 3.

The project was made possible by over $300,000 in private donations and is the first component of a major re-imagining of athletics facilities at Emporia State University.

Mammoth Sports Construction was the contractor for the turf project. They began on February 6 with the removal of the old turf and the new turf was signed off on February 22.

The playing surface is just one of several projects at the Trusler Sports Complex. In addition to the new turf, an outdoor batting cage is being constructed, to be followed by installation of new lights at Glennen Field. These improvements were kicked off last year with the installation of a new state-of-the-art fence.

The new playing surface was celebrated with an official dedication in April.

“The new turf is a difference maker,” said sophomore Kadyn Williams, a third baseman for the Hornet Baseball team. “It allows us as infielders to get more reps at practice because there is no maintenance that must be done. The turf plays the same way no matter the weather or conditions, and we get the experience of playing on a big-league surface. I am glad I get to play on the new turf for the next three years!”

Emporia State is grateful for the generosity of these lead donors:

Harkness Family Cages

Harkness Family ■ Carol & William Hopkins

Eric & Charlene Hughes ■ Kevin Wempe & Ashley Dillon

Diego & Megan Soto

Baseball Turf

Ron & Judy McCoy ■ Mike & Lynn Fiehler ■ Tyler Beebe

David & Shawna Nehls ■ Mark & Jennifer Longhofer

Baseball Fence

Paul & Karmin DeBey

Interested in supporting The John ‘Doc’ Baxter Athletic Training and Human Performance Lab?

Contact Amy Piersol to discuss supporting the lab. To make a gift online, select 'Other' as your gift option, enter Baxter Lab in the 'Other' fund field and select the amount you'd like to give to the Together, Forward Campaign today.

Amy Piersol � Director of Development

620-341-6473 �

apiersol@emporia.edu