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Georgia Southern University Athletics

J.I. Clements Stadium Gets a New Look for 2017

Enhancements will improve on-field conditions and in-stadium experience

Construction Underway

Baseball | 10/26/2016 9:32:00 AM

STATESBORO, GA. – Georgia Southern Athletics is set to complete a round of facility enhancements at J.I. Clements Stadium, the home of Georgia Southern Baseball, before the Eagles host the 2017 Sun Belt Baseball Championships at the friendly confines. Enhancements include a new outfield wall which will be pushed farther from home plate, a video board, relocation of the athletic training room within the Wiggins Building and new synthetic turf in bullpens and foul territory.

"I am very excited about this project," said Athletics Director Tom Kleinlein. "The timing could not be better with the Sun Belt Tournament coming to J.I. Clements Stadium this spring. Some very generous donors have come forward, including some former players from the Jack Stallings and J.I. Clements eras, to help finance this project. This work will improve one of the best stadiums in the Sun Belt Conference and significantly enhance our student-athlete and fan experiences."

"I would like to thank our administration for the vision and commitment both to host the 2017 Sun Belt Conference Tournament and make these improvements," said Head Coach Rodney Hennon. "I am also very grateful to our many Baseball Alumni and private donors who have given so generously to make this happen. By hosting the tournament, we have a tremendous opportunity to showcase not only Georgia Southern baseball, but the University and Statesboro community as well."

A SportsEdge ChampionWall will replace the old fence to provide a professional look to the park. The custom-engineered solution features extruded PVC panels which will not rust or rot to give the ballpark a nostalgic stadium feel that will stand the test of time. The profile of the outfield fence will be changed by removing pine trees beyond the wall. New trees will be planted farther back to keep the stadium's green feel. The fence will be 24-feet high in right field, giving J.I. Clements the new Blue Monster.
 
Georgia Southern Athletics will partner with Daktronics to replace the current scoreboard in left field and replace it with a new LED video board. The board features the same world-class software which is used to run the displays around Minor League Baseball.

The relocation of the Athletic Training Room within the Wiggins Building will enhance the care which student-athletes can receive. The training room will be moved from its current location, attached to the clubhouse on the second level, downstairs to the field level. The room will feature more space for treatments and enhanced flexibility for athletic trainers.

The current worn-out synthetic turf in the bullpen areas will be replaced with new turf. Additional synthetic turf will be installed in foul territory from pole to pole, replacing natural grass in shady areas which became worn-out throughout the season.

Additional facility enhancements will include new carpet and paint in the Champion's Room. The dugouts will also get a new coat of paint, while the helmet and bat racks will be replaced.

"Our players and fans should continue to enjoy the experience of a first class baseball facility. College baseball continues to grow both within the Sun Belt Conference and on a national scale and this can be seen in the facilities throughout the country. Certainly these improvements benefit our program as we strive to win Sun Belt Championships and get to Omaha."

Removal of the old fencing was hastened by Hurricane Matthew which knocked over the batter's eye in centerfield. Removal of the old fence and the pine trees has been completed, paving the way for construction to begin. Opening Day 2017 set for February 17 with a three-game series against Middle Tennessee.

Georgia Southern will welcome the 2017 Sun Belt Championships to J.I. Clements Stadium starting on May 23rd. For more information about Sun Belt Conference Baseball, visit SunBeltSports.org.

Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by visiting GSEagles.com/Tickets.
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