BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL
WINDSCREEN Windscreen can be a relatively inexpensive way to spruce up fencing or dugouts . Add logos or prints to display school spirit or town colors , or choose a plain design for added privacy and to shield against unwelcome wind . There are different types of windscreen materials to provide more privacy , durability to wind , and color / printing options . If measured and installed correctly , a windscreen can give that extra wow factor to really set your complex apart .
CLAY / INFIELD RENOVATIONS Clay / infield renovations are one of the biggest and best improvements you can make to your playing surface . Adding clay to the mound and plate will dramatically affect the quality of both of those areas . Most outs are recorded on the infield or at the plate , so making sure that those surfaces are up to snuff is important . Any dirt / clay improvement should be based on your maintenance capabilities . If you don ’ t have the staff to maintain clay on a daily or every-other-day basis , we wouldn ’ t recommend you add clay to the plate or the mound . Luckily , there are other options that will get you closer to the desired result of smaller holes . Using rubber hitting mats in place of clay is an affordable and low-maintenance option . It is hard to hit when standing in a batter ’ s box and one foot is higher than the other . Same thing for the mound — it is very unsafe to have a crater in your landing spot . Safety should be the priority for every sports field manager .
Just as important as adding clay to the mound and the dish is choosing the right infield mix . The right infield mix will lighten your daily maintenance load significantly compared to maintaining an unbalanced mix . I have had a lot of success with engineered soils in both the amendment process and a full 3- to 4-inch cap . Determining how much clay is in your mix is very important . If you do not have the time or labor to put out water multiple times a day , you should not be using a high clay content in your mix . If you do have the capability to water frequently and have a tarp on hand , then you should use a mix with a higher clay content . Conversely , aim for a silt percentage that ’ s about half or equal to the amount of clay , maintaining a silt / clay ratio between 0.5 and 1 .
By selecting a properly balanced infield mix , you will notice your mix stays in place and doesn ’ t migrate to different spots on your infield or to your grass . If the mix stays in place and holds its grade , water will run off the infield in the proper direction , which will allow you to get back on the field after rain quicker . It will also help avoid lips on your edges , which can be extremely dangerous when players are trying to field a ground ball and the ball comes up toward their face instead of staying down like it should . Just like when determining to add clay , your maintenance capabilities should determine what you want to do with your infield mix . Adding infield irrigation will dramatically affect your infield ’ s playability . Most irrigation companies will advise on using a high-speed head to avoid excessive puddling .
Like with all improvements , these things come at a cost . Some are more significant than others . If you don ’ t have the money readily available , don ’ t give up . There are multiple avenues to explore to get some help with these items . Consider applying for grants , getting donations from people who have a vested interest in the field or community , and asking associations who use the field to fundraise . Getting buy-in from all parties involved is an important step in getting the upgrades past the finish line .
Any of these improvements will make a difference . Don ’ t be afraid to reach out to companies who do these things for a living and ask questions about anything you don ’ t have experience with . As always , reaching out to your peers who may have had experience with improving their own fields will be beneficial . Ensuring we can provide safe facilities and fields will only help in making sure kids keep on playing youth sports so we all can continue to do what we love . SFM
Nick Balistrieri of Beacon Athletics has 13 years of grounds management experience . He has spent time at the MLB , NCAA and parks and rec levels , and has transitioned to the sales side of the industry . He is passionate about working with customers to provide safe playing surfaces and safe facilities for everyone who uses them .
20 SportsField Management | December 2023 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com