By Thomas Grant Jr.
LEXINGTON, S.C. — The early returns are in on the newly installed AstroTurf at Lexington County Baseball Stadium, and by all accounts, the synthetic surface is already a hit.
Based on feedback from players and coaches who have taken the field, the consensus is overwhelmingly positive.
“I’m so thankful for Lexington County Recreation & Aging Commission, Randy Gibson, Tommy Frazier, and Justin for making this happen,” said Corey Warner, owner and head coach of P27 Baseball Academy. “And all the work done behind the scenes to get it done. I think it’s a great addition for the county and what it will bring to the baseball community here in Lexington.
“I look forward to a bright future allowing the county to bring in top talent from all over the country. It is a pleasure to be part of the journey to make Lexington a destination for baseball. P27 is happy to be blessed to be a piece in this journey as we strive to have the best talent in the country.”
P27 held a scrimmage at the stadium last week, just days after Division III teams from the Northeast and Georgia officially christened the field with a series of games.
For players, the new surface has already made a noticeable difference.
“I’m super excited about the Blowfish being turf now,” said third baseman Jose Doubront. “I play the hot corner, so now I don’t have to worry about bad hops. I also pitch, so I’m super excited to not have to fix the mound with clay anymore.”
“The thing that I’m most excited about the newly turfed field is being able to come to practice and to games every day with a great environment and not having to worry about fixing the mound before I pitch,” added Genis Lopez.
“We are super thankful that we can compete on a field that so many people put time and effort building for us to play a game,” Bryce Mucia said. “I am super excited to be able to play after it rained without having to worry about the condition of the field.”
Improved weather durability and drainage have already proven beneficial. Bill Shanahan, co-owner of the Lexington County Blowfish, witnessed it firsthand as P27 was still able to hold its scrimmage despite heavy rains moving through the Lexington area.
The Blowfish are scheduled to play their first official game on the new surface May 29 against the Macon Bacon.
