RAINBOW BASEBALL
Baseball turf project hasn't started yet
Completion of installation of a new playing surface at Les Murakami Stadium is now scheduled for Nov. 15.
"That's still in time for the start of our season, which is fine," Hawaii baseball coach Mike Trapasso said.
But the contract for the work has yet to be awarded, so the project hasn't started yet despite release of $2 million in state funds in May.
Athletic director Herman Frazier cited delays on upper campus.
"The university and the architects and the consultants are still writing up the specs," Frazier said. "As soon as it's completed we're ready to go. It was supposed to have been done 10 days ago, so we're leaning on those guys."
The delays have resulted in Hawaii Winter Baseball not being able to play games at Murakami Stadium this season. The pro development league played all its games at Murakami and Hans L'Orange Field last year. This year they will be at Hans L'Orange and at Iron Maehara Stadium on Maui and Wong Stadium in Hilo.
"That's too bad, because having Hawaii Winter Baseball at our stadium is good for us," Trapasso said.
The current Astroturf surface is 14 years old. Trapasso has requested FieldTurf.