Turf to replace grass on Utah State Softball field
The LaRee and LeGrand Johnson Field, home to Utah State Softball, is currently having artificial turf installed to replace the outfield grass and the area around the infield.
Laree and LeGrand Johnson Field is located just north of Maverik Stadium in the northwest corner of the USU Logan campus. While the installation of turf can be expensive, with the average price being just over $12 per square foot, there are advantages to the artificial surface, especially in Utah’s climate.
Synthetic turf is not only exponentially more durable through the elements, but it also creates a more consistent playing and practice experience.
Utah State Softball head coach Steve Johnson said that’s one of the things they’re most excited about.
“Really, the main advantage and why we’re doing it is just the climate we live in,” Johnson said. “One of our biggest obstacles in the spring is not getting outside until we go play our first games.”
Snow and weather are always a concern for a team from Logan that will start its regular season in February. In the early months of the season, the team practices in the Stan Laub Indoor Training Center, and plays the majority of its games in St. George or other warm-weather places.
Adding artificial turf makes the softball field usable earlier in the season.
Snow melts faster, the ground dries quicker and the harsh conditions won’t ruin the turf.
The new installation will dramatically diminish the possibility of rainouts and other weather-related cancellations.
How does the turf play differently than natural surfaces?
“Really, not a whole lot,” Johnson said.“With the infield staying the conventional dirt, outfielders are the only position group that could see any change.
According to Johnson, the project should be done and the field playable in mid-November, weather permitting.
Many softball and baseball fields around the state and throughout the country at all levels have been transitioning to turf recently without seeing adverse effects.
While the field undergoes the current alterations, USU Softball has been playing home games at Green Canyon High School in North Logan. Fortunately, Johnson said this hasn’t been a problem.
“We’ve had to get creative with some practices on certain things, but we’re really able to do everything out there that we do here, and it hasn’t really been an issue.”
Utah State only has one more home game officially scheduled before its fall schedule comes to a close. Even without a proper home field currently, Utah State Softball is off to an encouraging 2-0 start to their fall campaign. Securing wins over Colorado Northwestern Community College and Idaho State, Johnson is optimistic about what he’s seen so far from his team.
“To start off, we’ve got a lot more depth at every position than we’ve had in a long time,” Johnson said. “We could potentially have six pitchers in the spring, which is the deepest staff we’ve ever had.”