Fayetteville Baseball Field Getting Artificial Turf Infield

The La Grange football field isn’t the only playing surface in Fayette County getting a bright green facelift this summer.

For the last several weeks an artificial turf infield has been going in at Fayetteville’s SPJST ballpark, home of the reigning state 1A baseball champion Lions.

It should be finished in the next few days and ready for Fall Ball league games, but the big unveiling is set for Saturday Oct. 16 (Lickskillet festival weekend in Fayetteville) when a barbeque cook-off and home run derby will be held at the ballpark.

The operation of the field has, for the last several years been done by the city, but earlier this year the Fayetteville Baseball Alumni Association, wanting to further upgrade the park, took over operating the facility with a 20-year lease from the SPJST, which owns the property.

The Alumni association is spear-headed by a trio of former Fayetteville baseball players, Mark Schmitt, Josh Vitek and Daniel Schley.

Schley and Vitek were teammates on Fayetteville’s first baseball state title team in 1997, but ironically, Vitek (who was a third round draft pick by the San Diego Padres) never played a home game in Fayetteville and Schley only played there one season in high school.

Instead, back then, the Lions played their home games at better fields in Brenham and New Ulm.

Now, Fayetteville has the better ballpark – easily one of the most beautiful small school facilities in the state after renovations began on the park over a decade ago. It’s already host to all manner of select and all-star tournament games, with even more to come with a minimized threat of rain-outs because of that turf. The new turf field will have adjustable base paths and a moveable pitching mound to conform to play of multiple age levels.

“How many parents and grandparents missed special moments because we couldn’t have games here?” Schley said. “Those are generational moments. Now this is something to be proud of.”

And Schley said the turf could give the Lions an advantage in repeating as state champs.

“Every moment they can practice when someone else can’t (because their field is muddy) gives us an advantage,” Schley said.

The outfield will remain natural grass.

“I wish I could have played here, but now at least my son gets to,” Vitek said. “It’s nice that your hometown can come out and watch quality baseball here.

“And be comfortable doing it,” Schmitt said.

They turf didn’t come cheap, however.

Though Schmitt’s MidTex Materials, Ronnie Pflughaupt, Minarcik Concrete and others have donated supplies and labor to bring down the cost, the alumni group (a 501c3 non-profit organization) still had to take out a loan of about $215,000 to cover the cost of the turf project, which is being done by KMI from Drippings Springs. That loan will be paid back from gate and concession proceeds.