Why Augustana University softball coach loves Portolite Pitching Mats

Augustana University softball pitcher makes a throw. The South Dakota team is looking forward to using Portolite Pitching Mats.

College Softball Head Coach Gretta Melsted, one of the most successful and respected coaches in Division 2 softball, wants only the best when it comes time for her team Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

That’s why she’s excited to bring Portolite’s Long Spiked Game Mat and two Portolite Ultimate Spiked Practice Mats to the college’s new $2.5 million softball field when it opens sometime during the spring season.

“We’ve been looking for high quality pitching mats,” Melsted said. “A lot of them slide when pitchers are on them, and that’s obviously not good.”

“When we saw the Portolite mats at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association conference in December we were impressed with the durability and quality of the mats,” she said. “We love the spikes on the bottoms that keep them from slipping.”

Potolite’s Long Spiked Game Mat features 7,000 spikes to keep pitchers’ feet on the mat – no slipping, sliding, or bunching and comes in green, clay, red, and tan turf colors. It’s also longer and wider, providing more stride length behind the rubber, and protecting turf from toe drag.

Potolite’s Ultimate Spiked Practice Mat has 5,000 spikes and comes in green, red, and purple. It’s also long and wide, perfect for college players.

A rendering of Augustana University’s new softball field in South Dakota. Portolite’s Pitching Mats are an important way the program will protect their investment.

New turf for the Augie softball field will cost around $500,000, so Melsted is thrilled Portolite’s Pitching Mats are protective.

“I stopped by and chatted with our turf guys,” she said. “They highly recommended this product and said it will help protect our investment and aid the success of our program.”

That’s no joke, considering the Augustana softball team enters the 2022 season with a No. 2 national ranking from the NFCA.

This is the third straight year that AU holds a Top 3 national ranking entering a season. They were 2019 National Champions.

What’s more, Melsted was happy to learn Portolite is based in Minnesota.

“I grew up in Minnesota,” she said. “We want to support local and Midwestern businesses. The fact they were made in our part of the country excites us even more.”

The Augustana softball team intends to extend their successful record using Potolite’s Pitching Mats.

Augustana University Softball Head Coach Gretta Melsted

Photo credit: Jurgens Photography

Portolite Pitching Mound’s limited warranty says it all. Portolite has set the standard in lightweight, durable and portable pitching mounds since 1992.