SPRINGFIELD – The University of Illinois Springfield Athletics Department is proud to announce outstanding progress in fundraising for the UIS Baseball First Pitch enhancements, which has a goal of $1 million in facility improvements. To date, $270,000 has been raised which will result in the installation of synthetic field turf on the infield at the UIS baseball field.

Springfield community members, including the Bank of Springfield, Saul Morse and Anne Morgan, Paul and Lynne O'Shea, Mark and Julie Staley, and Guerry Suggs and Jo Alessandrini have provided generous support for this project. The current grass infield will be replaced with synthetic turf in early October, once UIS Baseball has completed their fall practice season.

"Our UIS supporters and Springfield community have stepped up in a big way," said Associate Athletic Director for External Relations Paul Kabbes. "This $270,000 came together in just about six months thanks to people who have a passion for UIS, our student-athletes, our coaching staff, the city of Springfield and the great game of baseball. We cannot thank them enough for jump-starting these facility upgrades."

Baseball at UIS started again just six short years ago and has had some recent success as a member of the highly competitive NCAA Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference. UIS Baseball head coach Chris Ramirez and his teams have amassed 78 wins in the last three years. "My vision for UIS Baseball," Ramirez said, "is to compete at the highest national level, while also becoming a major resource for the development of youth baseball in the Springfield community. The infield synthetic turf project will help achieve both goals while providing an outstanding recruiting advantage for our program."

Click here to see the full details on the First Pitch fundraising campaign. This entire project encompasses the following four enhancements to the UIS baseball facility:

• Artificial turf infield playing surface – DONE this October!
• Multi-cage covered hitting facility
• A team locker room and clubhouse
• A fan deck overlooking the left field fence

For more information on these facility upgrades or to become involved today, visit the UIS Baseball home page or contact Paul Kabbes at 217-206-8547 or pkabb2@uis.edu.