The University of Hawaii's Les Murakami Stadium has been graced with a significant upgrade to its baseball diamond, as the Rainbow Warriors' artificial turf field has undergone a transformation worth $1.92 million, according to reports by Spectrum News. Much to the delight of players and staff, the project was completed below the estimated $2.3 million.
The old turf, which had been in place since 2008, showed unmistakable signs of aging, with bald spots and a particular patch that was as "hard as a rock," recalled utility player Ben Zeigler-Namoa. The new synthetic surface, fabricated by Shaw Sports Turf, with installation services provided by B1K and Applied Surfacing Technology, was fully unveiled on Friday. The renovation forfeited several weeks of preseason practice time, but the team has now been practicing on the turf since Wednesday, adjusting to its new conditions, according to a Spectrum News report.
Featuring alternating bands of light and dark green that parallel the design at the neighboring Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, the field now also boasts a large Hawaii "H" as its centerpiece. Both Zeigler-Namoa and senior infielder Jordan Donahue expressed their approval of the new field, with Donahue, in particular, noting the improvement in the playability of the surface. "There's nothing better. I think it's the top facility in the West Coast," Donahue opined, according to a statement obtained by Spectrum News.
One major change, in addition to the updated turf, is that the pitcher's mound, historically dirt, is now also turf. The bullpens have been given the same treatment, which Zeigler-Namoa believes will lead to more consistent pitching conditions. The new turf surface is also expected to mitigate rain delays, a common occurrence due to the Manoa Mist, as noted by Donahue in an interview with Spectrum News.
Furthermore, Zeigler-Namoa remarked, "It's a whole other level of, you don’t just get this great atmosphere, the great fans, but you also get to play on this daunting field now where it’s just like you walk in and you're like, ‘Oh, it’s everyone against us’. And it’s going to be a huge disadvantage for opponents for sure," according to a KHON2 statement. The field’s baptism will take place next Saturday prior to the UH alumni game, inviting fans to witness not only the traditional festivities but also the new turf in all its striped glory.
