SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana College announced today that it was recently awarded a grant in the amount of $84,700 from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF). The grant will provide funding for the purchase and installation of Musco Lighting equipment at Ronken Baseball Field at Karras Park. Musco Lighting, Inc., a leader in the sports-lighting industry, is providing the new field-lighting system at a significant discount through their partnership with BTF.
The field lights at Karras Park Home of Ronken Baseball Field will benefit approximately 250 youth players annually, including participants in a fall league and academy offered by the college, as well as players in local community leagues.
“This grant provides a tremendous boost toward our school's goal of adding lights to our beautiful baseball facility,” said Augustana College Director of Athletics Bill Gross. “The addition of lights will not only be a major benefit to our baseball and softball programs, but also for youth baseball in the Sioux Falls community. We are excited and thankful for the support of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund for this very important improvement to Ronken Field.”
“The Baseball Tomorrow Fund is pleased to provide this grant for field lighting at Ronken Baseball Field,” said Cathy Bradley, Executive Director of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund. “We applaud Augustana College's effort to encourage and support participation in youth baseball. The college's willingness to open its facility to local youth players and leagues is a wonderful benefit for the community. We thank Musco Lighting, Inc. for providing a generous discount for its top quality lighting equipment.”
“We're honored to work with Augustana College and be a part of the Ronken field project. Musco lights will fit in nicely with the overall improvements to the field: new dugouts, new press box, field turf for the infield, and a new grandstand. This work will help grow the community and college programs alike,” said Todd Stych, representative for Musco Lighting. “Plus, Augustana College has an additional benefit through the estimated life-cycle cost savings of close to $60,000 over the next 25 years. We're very pleased to join with Electric Construction Company, Sioux Falls, along with Baseball Tomorrow Fund and Augustana College to make this project happen.”
About the Baseball Tomorrow Fund
The Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF) is a joint initiative between the Major League Baseball Players Association and Major League Baseball designed to promote the growth of youth baseball and softball throughout the world by awarding grants to support field renovation and construction projects, equipment and uniform purchases, coaches training material and other selected program expenses. Since its formation by MLB and the MLBPA in 1999, BTF has awarded over 665 grants totaling more than $23 million to non-profit and tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and Asia. Approximately 325,000 youth players have benefited from programs and facilities supported by the fund. BTF also facilitates league-wide initiatives including the collection and distribution of new and gently used equipment to organizations in need as well as field maintenance education clinics. For more information, visit
baseballtomorrowfund.com and follow BTF on
Facebook,
Twitter and
MLBlogs.
About Musco Sports Lighting, LLC
Musco Lighting, a proud partner of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, has specialized in the design and manufacture of athletic field lighting for over 35 years. Recognized around the globe as the world-class leader in sports lighting, Musco's Green Generation Lighting® enhances the play of America's favorite pastime, cuts energy costs, and lowers the impact on the environment. For more about Musco Lighting, visit www.musco.com.
About Augustana College
Augustana College, located in Sioux Falls, S.D. is a member of NCAA Division II and competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Augustana was founded in 1860 and currently enrolls 1,850 full-time students. The Augustana baseball program began in 1915 and has compiled a record of 790-1,034 in 97 years of competition. Ten players from Augustana have gone on to play professional baseball, including five Major League Baseball draft picks. Currently, Augustana baseball runs a fall league and academy for local youth baseball players.
