MLB CHOOSES WEST COAST TURF FOR KIDS

Major League Baseball Sods the First-Ever Urban Youth Academy Baseball Fields

Palm Desert, CA...Major League Baseball, as part of its Urban Youth Initiative, opened the first ever Youth Baseball Academy in Compton, CA, on February 28th. The Academy will provide free baseball and softball instruction to Southern California youth, and will be open 365 days a year. Over the course of this year they expect to provide the free program to over 2500 children. The $10 million campus encompasses 10 acres, including four playing fields grassed by West Coast Turf.

"The opening of the Baseball Academy in Compton is an important and historic development for Major League baseball," said Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. "There is nothing we value more than increasing interest and participation in baseball among the youth in our country, particularly among those that live in the inner cities. We in Major League Baseball recognize our role and responsibility as a social institution, and if we are going to meet the expectations of our fans in this area of diversity and equality, this platform-the Baseball Youth Academy-is a very significant step. This is the first of what I hope is a series of Academies all over America."

In addition to baseball and softball instruction, those attending the MLB Urban Youth Academy will be given the opportunity to participate in other free seminars such as athletic turfgrass and field management.

Over 7 acres of Tifway 419 sod was grown and installed by West Coast Turf. "We just finished sodding PetCo Park in San Diego, Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Chase Field in Phoenix, and McAfee Coliseum in Oakland to get them ready for Opening Day. We've been pretty busy renovating the Spring Training fields down in Arizona the last few months, too," said West Coast Turf spokesperson, Tom Stafford.

"This project turned out amazing here in Compton-it's a big deal. We're just as proud getting the Academy geared up for their Opening Day as we are when we've been at the major league ballparks getting ready for theirs," Stafford said.

West Coast Turf is the sod supplier of choice to high profile baseball fields such as Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA; PetCo Park in San Diego, CA; McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, CA; Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ; Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA; Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO; and now the MLB Youth Baseball Academy in Compton, CA. For more information visit www.westcoastturf.com or call 800/447-1840.