TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (May 8, 2020) - The Salt Lake Community College baseball team was enjoying one of its strongest starts to a season in recent memory in 2020, opening the year with a 20-4 mark and a record of 7-1 in Scenic West Athletic Conference games.

The Bruins, like all NJCAA programs, were devastated with the cancelation of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Salt Lake still has much to celebrate when it comes to off-the-field accomplishments, including some much-needed facility upgrades to the team's Cate Field facility. With an update that included fresh turf and a new scoreboard, the facility's refresh has added additional fire to the program's momentum.

"(The Cate Field upgrades) shows our institution's commitment and care for our student athletes," said Bruins coach D.G. Nelson. "It's a big thing when recruiting to show how supportive the school is to the student-athlete."

Due to the unpredictable weather on the Wasatch Front, the Bruins have long utilized an artificial playing surface that minimized the effects of weather and the on-going chore of field maintenance. The new turf helped solve the issue, while the addition of a new scoreboard helps to improve the fan experience.

With the latest updates, Nelson said Cate Field is now one of the elite facilities in the state.

"I'm obviously biased but I feel we have the best playing facility in the conference and one of the top in the country," he said. "It is truly exciting to walk on such a nice field for practice and games."

Athletic administrators have many focuses but one of the primary ones revolves around facilities, with strategic planning and fundraising playing a strong role in successful fulfillment. SLCC's Kevin Dustin noted how facility improvements like the Cate Field project are always near the top of his goals.

"It is imperative that we offer our athletes the best possible facilities in which to compete, especially when safety is involved," he said. "Cate Field had not been replaced in its history and the turf was starting to tear.  The new scoreboard is a really nice feature for our fans and players; we also think it will help us in recruiting.  Facility upgrades show SLCC is committed to excellence."

While the improvements will help the program, Nelson said he already is turning attention towards potential projects that could help the Bruins even more.

"I think we are working on getting new lighting," he said. "I'm working on getting an analytic-driven video program that will give a ton of feedback for the players to use and improve, as well as detailed information to send scouts and universities."