Baseball Field

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Softball & Baseball Field Management & Maintenance Services

Table 11.4, Table 11.5, Table 11.6
 
In order to practice effective maintenance and management of a baseball or softball facility, it's important to conduct regular inspections of the field or fields. Table 11.4 shows a chart to guide inspections. Using this chart will help remind the field manager of the various factors and observations which should be included in regular examinations. Maintenance procedures should be planned on the basis of these inspections.
 
Table 11.4. Sample Field Inspection Report
 
In order to learn as much as possible about the condition of the field as an ecosystem, take time to go beyond the superficial in making inspections. For instance, take along a soil probe and push it into the soil at various spots around the grass portions of the field to check for moisture level, compaction, and thatch buildup. Pull up a few plugs and inspect the root system, thatch, and the ends of the grass blades. Look for tearing and shredding at the ends of the blades, characteristic of the effects of dull mower blades.
 
Effective inspections should also be timed to observe the field in a variety of conditions. For instance, check the grass after it's mowed, to see whether the mowing is correctly taking off about 1/3 of the plant. And make a point to inspect the field during or immediately after a sustained, heavy rain. See where water is standing on the field, and especially where it is puddling on the skinned areas. These inspections are the best source of information on which to base maintenance decisions.
 
11.5a Skinned Area Maintenance
Because of the importance of keeping the skinned areas smooth and free of compaction, daily maintenance is required during the playing season. After the surface is moistened to allow for good surface penetration, use a nail drag to keep the soil loose. Next, a mat drag is used to break up soil clumps and level the surface. Dragging should begin six inches from the grass edge and work toward the middle of the skinned area to prevent the loss of sand/clay into the grass. If heavy rains make use of a tractor unwise, the skinned areas can be hand-raked to achieve a similar effect (Figure 11.29).
 
It's also important to lift the drag before leaving the skinned area, to avoid pulling soil into the grass edge, where it may block a critical surface drainage point (Figure 11.30).
 
Holes at the batter's box, the pitcher's mound and the bases are filled, tamped, and hand-raked each day.
 
Edging the grass areas should be performed at least twice a year. Before edging is performed, a high-pressure water hose should be used to remove any of the skinned-area material that has accumulated at the grass edge. Stand on the turfgrass area and direct the stream of water at the first 2" to 4" of turfgrass so that the loose soil is pushed out into the skinned area. Avoid directing the stream at the sand/clay soil (Figure 11.31).
 
At the beginning of each season, a tractor with a pulverizer attachment is used to break up the layer of compaction that forms over the winter.
 
11.5b Warm Season Maintenance
Table 11.5 shows a sample maintenance program that can be tailored to fit the needs of any baseball or softball field in the warm season zone. This is only one example of a maintenance program that is being used successfully on a warm season baseball field. In planning a fertilization program, the field manager should consult the more detailed information found in Chapter 3, Fertility and Fertilizers.
 
Table 11.5. Warm season maintenance program
 
This maintenance program is used on a baseball field that has a fall practice period, a spring season from mid-February through mid-May, and a summer season that begins in mid-June and lasts through August.
 
Fertilization
The P and K levels in this typical native sandy loam soil are in the low-medium range, and the fertility program outlined here reflects the recommendations of soil tests, which called for sources high in P and K. A complete 13-13-13 fertilizer is used in split applications in May and then is alternated with ammonium nitrate from June to August. In September, ½ pound of N is applied with 13-13-13 to minimize bermudagrass growth while the overseeded perennial ryegrass is establishing. In early October, a 21-2-20 sulfur-coated source is applied at one pound of N in order to sustain overseeding growth through November. A winterizing application of one pound K, using 0-0-60, is performed in mid-October.
 
The fertility program resumes in the following year with applications of ½ pound of N using 21-2-20 in February and March, again designed to slowly supply the overseeded ryegrass with just enough nutrients to maintain active growth during the cooler temperature periods. An application of sulfur-coated 10-24-18 goes down in April to supply additional P and K for the transitioning bermudagrass. The frequency of complete fertilizer applications would be reduced in future years when P and K levels are brought up to recommended levels.
 
Aeration and Topdressing
Vertical mowing should be performed in late May, following the completion of the spring schedule, if a significant thatch layer (greater than ½") is present. In June, the turf can be hollow tine-tine aerated with 4" deep, ½" diameter tines, and then a medium-coarse textured sand is applied over the entire field at a depth of 1/8" to smooth the surface, and the sand and cores are dragged in. This process should take place during a 10-day period when the field is not in use to give the turf a chance to recover from the stress of the operation. Solid tines (3/8" diameter, 4" deep) can be used in July over the entire field to provide temporary compaction relief without disrupting the playing surface. Once again, the field can be topdressed with 1/8" of medium-coarse sand.
 
Vertical mowing can be performed again in August in preparation for overseeding in early September. The vertical mowing in August is not intended as a dethatching event because this practice has been shown to increase the winterkill potential of the bermudagrass. For this reason, August vertical mowing should include only one pass over the field, instead of the two or three passes performed when serious dethatching is the goal. Following overseeding, the turf is again topdressed with 1/8" of sand to promote seed:soil contact.
 
Overseeding
Overseeding is recommended for fields which are used for both fall practice and the spring season. The bermudagrass base is overseeded in mid-September with 12 pounds of pure live seed per 1,000 square feet with a blend of perennial ryegrasses. Follow this application in a few weeks with an additional 3 pounds of seed, paying particular attention to poorly established areas. After overseeding, topdress as described previously.
 
In planning for overseeding of a baseball diamond, remember that the infield is the critical portion of the field, and be sure to apply the full amount of seed in that area. According to Dr. Coleman Ward, retired turfgrass extension specialist from Auburn University, a workable rule of thumb is to plant the infield at the full rate and the outfield at a half-rate if budget restrictions are a concern.
 
Keep in mind that with rotary spreading, some drop seeding might be necessary in order to maintain precise shape or definition of areas in the boundaries. Reliance on rotary seeding often will not result in the desired straight edges.
 
If the field is being used only for baseball, there will be a few months during the winter when the staff is actively maintaining the turf while it is not being played on. However, this is necessary in order to have the field in optimal condition the next spring.
 
If the baseball season extends into the late spring and early summer months, then the overseeded ryegrass will need to receive extra attention to get it through the extreme heat and moisture stress periods during this time of year. This can be accomplished by paying careful attention to moisture status of the turf and monitoring irrigation frequencies and amounts so that they keep the overseeded ryegrass actively growing.
 
Mowing
Mowing at 1/4" from May through September promotes sod strength and lateral spread. (Cutting this short requires mowing at least three times per week during periods of active growth.) The cutting height should be raised to 1¼" from October through march to promote winter hardiness of the bermudagrass. The cutting height can then be reduced to 1" in April, gradually working toward ¾" by May.
 
Irrigation
During periods of no rainfall, an effective irrigation strategy is for the turf to receive two irrigation events per week from June through August, each irrigation delivering approximately ½" of water. Following overseeding in September, water lightly but frequently, keeping the top ¼" of soil moist at all times to improve germination. Then water on an as-needed basis to maintain the perennial ryegrass through the rest of the year.
 
Weed Control
An aggressive fertility program encourages a thick turfgrass canopy and reduces the need for a preemergence program. This allows a strategy of spot-treating weeds with postemergence herbicides on an as-needed basis. The primary weeds of concern tend to be the summer annuals crabgrass and goosegrass, and a few clumps of the perennial weed dallisgrass grass may need to be treated during June and July with MSMA. Where there is a persistent problem with purple nutsedge and perennial (green) kyllinga, these weeds can be treated during the summer months with halosulfuron (ManageTM ).
 
11.5c Transitional Zone Maintenance
In establishing a maintenance program for fields in the Transitional Zone, adapt the program appropriate for the type of turfgrass being used on the field. Maintain warm season species according to the warm season program, and cool season species according to the typical northern program.
 
11.5d Cool Season Maintenance
Cool season turfgrasses run through an annual cycle of strong active growth in the spring and early summer, with dormancy in the hottest part of the year, followed by another strong growing season in the late summer and fall. For the cool season turfgrass manager this cycle creates a substantial maintenance challenge, since baseball extends into the hottest part of the summer. Table 11.6 shows a sample maintenance program that can be tailored for any baseball or softball facility in the cool season zone.
 
Table 11.6. Cool season maintenance program
 
Fertilization
As a general rule, cool season fields should get less than 30% of their annual nitrogen needs in the spring, with the remainder applied in the fall. Restricting N application at this time of year helps to prevent excessive shoot growth, which often comes at the expense of needed root growth. The first fertilization of the spring is a good time to apply a starter fertilizer such as 18-24-12, since the actively growing turfgrass plants will benefit from the additional P and K at this point in the year. Also, excessive N in the spring could cause a severe leaf spot problem
 
During the summer, one application of ½ pound N and a full pound of K helps preserve plant health during the heat of the summer, and enhances the turf's ability to resist disease.
 
Applying the largest portion of the N in the fall contributes to strong root growth, and helps the turf recover from the stresses placed upon it by the competitive season. The very best time to apply N is right after the last mowing of the season, when the grass is still green. During this period, shoot growth slows, but root growth continues. The fall application of nitrogen sustains active root growth and allows for the accumulation of carbohydrates (stored food reserves) in the roots and stems. This results in an early spring greenup, and a further enhancement of the turf's ability to withstand stresses.
 
Aeration
Aerating frequently, and varying the equipment, helps to make the turf stronger. In May and June, it would be a good idea to use solid tine aeration unless the cores can be removed. Leaving cores on the field at this time of the year will cause erratic ball bounces. After the season is over, core aerate as much as once a month. It's a good idea to drag the cores to break them up. Cores left unbroken could cause a bumpy surface.
 
Topdressing and Slit-Seeding
Consider topdressing after the games are over for the year. Topdressing provides the benefit of helping to level the surface. First, core aerate the field. Then topdress and use a level bar to get the surface as smooth as possible.
 
This would also be a good time to slit-seed if the turf is not as thick as desired, or to introduce a new species into the existing turf.
 
Mowing
The perennial ryegrass starts growing first in the spring, so keep the mowing height at about 2" to let sunlight reach the Kentucky bluegrass base. When the Kentucky bluegrass starts growing in May, try to maintain the mowing height at 2". Then, raise the height ¼" in June to help the turf prepare for the summer's heat. In July, the grass should be higher than at any other time of year.
 
Begin lowering the height when temperatures drop in September. The lower height will be beneficial when it's time to topdress and level. The level bar moves much more smoothly over shorter grass.
 
Keep mowing at 2" until growth has completely stopped, remembering not to remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade each cutting. If the grass is left too long over the winter, the risk of snow mold increases. However, scalping in late fall can expose the crowns of the plant during the winter, weakening the grass.
 
Watering
In the spring, apply water as needed to meet the 1" per week requirement. Gradually reduce the frequency and increase the amount, so that by summer, more water is being applied at one time and the soil is given a chance to dry. Watering lightly in the summer encourages shallow roots (and may also increase the likelihood of disease), while heavy summertime watering fosters the deeper roots that make for strong turf.
 
If the fall brings dry weather, keep watering to help maintain turf growth, especially if overseeding has been performed. If areas have been sodded around the baselines or the outfield arc, don't forget to water those areas deeply until the new sod is rooted.
 
Weed Control
As a general rule, a spot application of postemergent weed control should be all that's needed. Apply the treatment when the weeds and the turf are actively growing, and when there will be no activity on the field for a few days. If a blanket treatment is needed, a better time would be in the fall when the games are over, but the turf is still actively growing.