Baseball Field

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Softball & Baseball Field Construction / Reconstruction Services

After surveying the field and developing a grading plan, it's time to start construction. A critical first step in the construction process is to transfer the grading plan to the field, using grade stakes.
 
The skinned area of a baseball diamond typically has grades ranging from ¼% to 1%, while infields (either skinned or grass) should have a ½% downward slope toward the baselines. Since these are such gradual slopes, it's necessary to use as many as 50 grade stakes for these areas. Set the stakes first, then mark the proposed grade on the stakes using a marker.
 
In setting the grade, string lines can be used in two different ways. The first is to place the string lines on the straight edges between the grass and the skinned areas. Everything on one side of the line is topsoil, while the other side is sand/clay soil. (For these straight edges, string lines serve a dual purpose: separating the grass area from the skinned area, and setting the string at finish grade as a visible guideline for the crew.) String lines can also be used to check grade between stakes by tying the string to one stake at finish grade, then pulling tight and tying to another stake at finish grade.
 
Use a paint line on the field arcs. Place stakes along the arc to mark the finish grade. Remember to account for settling by pressing firmly on both sides of these lines. This can be done with foot pressure, but a tractor is even better.
 
Use string lines to hand-grade the entire infield by attaching a string to a stake at the base of the pitcher's mound and pulling it to another stake at the baseline. A line can also be tied to a stake at the baseline between first and second base, or between second and third, and pulling it to another stake at the arc where the skinned area meets the outfield grass.
 
One easy way to check the slope in front of the pitcher's plate is to make a measuring tool from a piece of 2"x4"x10' lumber, as shown in figure 11.22. Lay the 2x4 on top of the pitcher's plate, and stake it level on the home plate side. Mark the board 18" in front of the pitcher's plate and then every foot until there are six marks. Then adjust the slope until the first mark is one inch above the ground, the second mark is two inches, and so on. The rest of the mound can be sloped evenly to the bottom.
 
For overall field designs shown in Figures 11.2 and 11.3, set the outfield grade stakes on the contour lines. To allow the field to drain properly, it's important to have an even grade from contour line to contour line. That means grade stakes and spot elevation checks are necessary to ensure an even grade and to prevent puddling.
 
One common mistake is to fail to set grade stakes in foul territory around the infield to allow for continuous grades from the infield to the dugouts. These are highly used areas in the field of play, and they require special attention to make sure the players using them will not be standing in water or mud. Remember that catchers will be running through these areas looking straight up for foul balls, and grabbing throws from the outfield with runners approaching the plate. Obviously, under these circumstances, good traction is essential.
 
It's also important to keep heavy equipment off the field whenever it's wet. Equipment on the field at these times can cause excessive compaction to the sub-base and the topsoil.
 
Reconstruction
 
When approaching a reconstruction project, the sports field professional is well advised to consider the diamond as a whole, and only then to attempt spot solutions to observe problems like standing water. Without a clear idea of what's going on with the field and the surrounding terrain, any "Band-Aid" fixes are likely to fail.
 
As with new-field construction, the best first step is to survey the ground. Often a survey will instantly reveal the cause of the problems observed at the facility, and suggest solutions. Likewise, observing the behavior of water on the surface during a heavy rain can yield important insights about the field.
 
Analyzing the existing elevations will allow the field planner to determine whether to reconstruct the entire infield and surrounding areas, or whether edge removal will provide adequate surface drainage.
 
Figure 11.23 is an example of a worksheet that can be used to conduct an effective survey of an existing field. By taking an elevation reading at each of the indicated marks and filling in the appropriate values, the planner will collect more than 65 different elevations of the field surface--plenty to yield an accurate understanding of the topography of the field and how it will need to be adjusted to result in a sound diamond. It's also a good idea to survey the area outside the fence.
 
Figure 11.23. Reconstruction survey worksheet. In using this worksheet, place the existing elevation on top of each line and the proposed elevation underneath.
 
Before surveying, lay out the field using string lines for the straight-aways and paint lines for the arcs. Then take an elevation reading at each point indicated on the layout sheet. Notice that the points are very close together in the area where the skinned area meets the outfield grass. This is frequently a problem area, because soil from the skinned area meets the outfield grass. This is frequently a problem area, because soil from the skinned area accumulate at the grass edge.
 
When redesigning a skinned area, it's worthwhile to try to get water to run off toward the foul lines, as shown in Figure 11.5.
 
Once the planner has a clear idea of the dynamics of the diamond, planning for the reconstruction should begin with adjusting the difference in elevation between the pitcher's mound and home plate. The next step is to adjust the slope at the baselines to allow water to run across the lines and into foul territory. Finally, refine and adjust the rest of the skinned area as discussed above, and the rest of the diamond.
 
It's vitally important to follow new diamond design criteria as closely as possible in performing the reconstruction. Correcting field problems may require solutions that seem at first blush excessive; we have completed reconstruction projects that began with the addition of two feet of soil on the infield to allow for the required positive surface drainage and to prevent outfield and sideline water from crossing into the skinned area and infield.
 
The planner will sometimes be challenged as to the need for such substantial reconstruction of the field, and the wisdom of such expenditures will be questioned. However, accurate maintenance records, as well as records of rain outs, makeup games, and related inconvenience and expense, will often lend great weight to the case for a major reconstruction instead of a few small fixes (Figures 11.24 and 11.25)