HELLAS CONSTRUCTION SELECTED BY LAMAR UNIVERSITY FOR BASEBALL STADIUM UPGRADE

Beaumont, TX (October 24, 2018) – Hellas’ proven experience and exceptional reputation for timely construction of new synthetic turf fields secures this local Texas company for the baseball stadium project. Lamar University is on the cutting edge of technology on the diamond with Hellas Construction’s FusionTM Major Play turf for the infield and FusionTM XP2 for the outfield of Vincent-Beck Baseball Stadium. The Cardinals, who have had a lot of success under third year head baseball coach Will Davis, are enjoying the fruits of their labor with a major upgrade to their playing field set to open in the Spring of 2019.

Hellas is able to get this project started right away since they use their own trained and experienced crews and equipment to construct the field for the new synthetic turf surface. What makes this FusionTM Major Play turf special is the combination of fibers which requires less rubber infill, allowing for a truer bounce of the baseball for infielders. Meanwhile, the Fusion XP2 is designed for the outfielders to get more consistent bounces from the ball after it is hit. With this new Major Play turf field, other benefits for Lamar University include reduced maintenance and less rain outs, which also saves on resources.

Lamar’s football program began a partnership with Hellas in 2010 when the Austin based company installed Matrix Turf and its patented RealfillTM with a unique silica pea gravel base at Provost Umphrey Stadium eight years ago. Lamar University Director of Athletics Marco Born says “We are very excited to once again be working with Hellas Construction. Hellas is one of the leaders in sport facility construction and turf installation.” Born added about Hellas, “We built a strong relationship with them during the installation of the Matrix Turf at Provost Umphrey Stadium in 2010. The installation is under way at Vincent-Beck Stadium and we’re looking forward to the 2019 season.” The Cardinals aren’t the only performers on this turf looking forward to the 2019 season, as the 16,000-seat stadium has also been the site for soccer, concerts and other entertainment.

Lamar head baseball coach Will Davis played for LSU (2004-7) and later coached 8 seasons with his alma-mater in Baton Rouge, Louisiana before becoming the manager of the Cardinals baseball team in 2016. “We are excited to be working with such a reputable company as Hellas,” Davis says. “Their list of clients and the reviews from those clients,” Davis adds, “is very exciting and their proximity to us in Houston should provide a great working relationship.” Davis follows Lamar’s Hall of Fame legendary head coach Jim Gilligan, who won close to 1,400 baseball games in his college baseball coaching career.

The Cardinals baseball team is coming off a 19-win season in 2018, but had 33 wins the year before, including victories over national powers Baylor and Rice University in 2017. Lamar upset LSU and Texas in Davis’ first year as head coach in 2016. The Cardinals are one of the preseason favorites in 2019.

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