BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. (February 10, 2014) — Turface Athletics™ presented its 2013 Field Maintenance and Scholarship awards at the American Baseball Coaches Association’s (ABCA) annual convention in Dallas.

The maintenance awards recognize outstanding field maintenance at the high school and college levels, while the scholarships provide assistance to two schools in need of field improvements.

Honored with 2013 Field Maintenance Awards were Hampshire High School in Hampshire, Ill., and Long Beach State University in Long Beach, Calif. Accepting on behalf of the schools were John Sarna, Hampshire head coach, and David Yamane, director of baseball operations at Long Beach State.

"Receiving a nationally recognized award from the ABCA and Turface Athletics is a true honor in itself," Sarna said. "The constant hard work of our coaches, administration, grounds crew, and parents is the reason for our success and clearly demonstrates just how important coaches nationally value solid playing facilities and conditions. This honor becomes an added incentive to keep making the necessary improvements to enhance the safety and playability of our fields."

For their successful efforts in field maintenance, the schools will each receive a free pallet of Turface® and $400 for future field maintenance efforts.

West Milford High School in West Milford, N.J., and West Chester University in West Chester, Pa., were the recipients of the 2013 Field Maintenance Scholarship Awards. The schools will each receive three tons of Turface and a total of $500 over the next two years for use on maintenance equipment and supplies. 

"We are proud of the opportunity to help all of these schools enhance the safety and playability of their fields," said Jeff Langner, Turface Athletics brand manager. "Notably with the scholarship winners, the programs have the desire and people in place to dramatically improve field quality, but simply lack the resources to make it happen. That’s where Turface can come in and help."

Turface also sponsored a one-time Service Award, honoring Tim Fanning, head coach of Glenwood High School in Smiths Station, Ala., for his work in co-founding the non-profit organization, "More Than a Game."

The organization focuses on excellence in athletics and leadership in one’s community through service. The group has taken this mission outside the United States the past two years, most recently in Bongo, Panama where Fanning and his team of volunteers constructed a field and provided playing equipment. 

Fanning and his Glenwood baseball team won the 2011 Field Maintenance Award and continue to maintain a renowned facility.

"It meant so much to me that we were recognized a couple years ago for our hard work in caring for our field," Fanning said. "To be at the awards luncheon again, and to see the momentum behind More Than a Game is really humbling and exciting for me."