WARRENSBURG, Mo. – UCM Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics
Matt Howdeshell announced on Thursday, July 10, that the Jennies softball team will compete on a brand-new AstroTurf infield playing surface beginning in 2026.
"As we've done with all of our facility enhancements, we continually look to improve the student-athlete and fan experience," Howdeshell said. "By extending our partnership with AstroTurf and Mid-America Sports Construction, we are able to maximize modern turf technology and provide our Jennies Softball program with a surface that enhances safety and playability."
The project will include turfing the entire infield portion of the stadium, extending through foul territories toward the dugouts so that the Jens will have an all-weather playing surface. This will limit rain outs and allow the Jennies to host additional postseason play.
The turf is used by 70 percent of NCAA Division I programs and is specifically engineered to emphasize the bounce of the ball while enhancing player safety and maintenance.
"We are very thankful for our administration for supporting this turf project and enhancing Jennies Field for our student-athletes' experience and also for the potential to host MIAA postseason events," Head Coach
Susan Anderson said. "The new artificial turf will allow us to play and train more often on our softball field and be less impacted due to weather and poor field conditions."
Mid-America Sports Construction, based in Lee's Summit, Mo., will break ground on the project on Tuesday, July 15, and expects to complete it by Tuesday, August 19.
"Mid-America Sports Construction is very proud to be able to bring an all-weather playing surface to the University of Central Missouri softball program," Brock Wilson of Mid-America Sports Construction said. "We have always been big fans of the Mules and Jennies and look forward to installing AstroTurf's top-end RBI system for the Jennies softball team and building a field that will stand the test of time. We look forward to working with the university and Coach Anderson to make the field play as they want."
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