Ferris State Softball Project Becomes A Reality Thanks To Physical Plant Efforts
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Big Rapids, Mich. - A special ribbon-cutting ceremony took place Thursday (Oct. 15) morning at the Ferris State University Softball Field as the Bulldog program came together to thank members of the FSU Physical Plant staff who played a major role in the facility's renovation project this fall.
The facility, which is home to the Bulldog Softball program, underwent a number of upgrades including a new synthetic turf infield. The project also included new batting cages and bullpens along with a much-improved natural grass outfield. The sitework for the project began in June and the project was completed in mid-October with other elements such as backstop pads and windscreens still to be added in the near future.
The synthetic turf was installed by the Shaw Turf Company and the design work was put together by Foresite Design, but much of the project work and labor was completed in-house by the dedicated Ferris State physical plant staff.
"This project looks outstanding and will be tremendous for our softball program, including both our current and future student-athletes," said FSU Athletics Director Perk Weisenburger. "We're appreciative of all those who have been involved in getting this project off the ground and especially those in our physical plant who have devoted so much time and energy into making this a reality."
The synthetic turf surface will aid the Bulldogs' ability to not only host games during the spring playing season, but also allow the program to host additional camps, clinics and training sessions throughout the year. The turf infield surface features the Bulldog logo behind home plate with the wording "Ferris State" along the third base line and "Bulldogs" near the first base dugout in red letters with a while outline.
"I'm thrilled with the way this project has turned out and want to thank everyone involved for what they did for our student-athletes and team," said FSU head coach Kristin Janes. "This project will help our program in so many ways and enable our players to train and compete in a first-class facility that is now among the best around.
"Without our physical plant crew and the outstanding efforts they put in, this doesn't get done," she added. "The care and detail they put into this project to make it look and function like we wanted it too was awesome. This is incredible for our program, our team and the university. Overall, it's a full facility upgrade and it turned out phenomenal."
FSU's Tim Blashill, who serves as the Manager of Athletic Facilities, noted that the FSU Physical Plant staff put in hundreds of hours to make the project come to vision under the direction of Associate Vice President Mike Hughes along with Director of Operations Mark Eichenberg, senior project manager Joe Haupt and Grounds Supervisor Scott Wilcox. Staff from nearly every area in the physical plant were involved in the project work along the way and were thanked by members of the Bulldog Softball program and athletic department staff during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
"This facility is an unbelievable upgrade for Bulldog Softball," said Blashill. "I can't thank our physical plant team enough for their commitment to this project. They did such professional work to make this come to life and deserve all the credit for making it happen. They've been incredibly supportive throughout this project."
The FSU Softball Field was originally completed in the fall of 1993 and features bleacher seating behind home plate along with a multi-level pressbox and team space in addition to home and visitor dugouts along with a modern scoreboard.
"We're so excited to have a chance, hopefully in the very near future, to get back on the field and showcase this facility to the public," said Janes. "The turf infield and the other upgrades will be such a huge benefit for us and give our student-athletes the best possible opportunity to have success."