Retire Your Field Properly For The Season

How To Retire Your Baseball Or Softball Field For The Winter Season 

With the threat of autumn just around the corner, preparing to retire your baseball or softball field for the season is most likely at the top of your end of season to-do list. Given the amount of time and effort spent on the field in season, getting your field ready for its ‘off season’ often gets overlooked. Let’s discuss some basic steps to ensure that your field will be ready to go for that first pitch in the spring.

After a busy spring and summer that sees over 150 games on a varsity field; as well as fall work outs, here is a sample outline of how a local Division I High School team preps their field for a long Ohio winter:

 

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Add standard dirt to the infield and plate areas to raise the level back to the original height. Add Pro's Choice Easy Mound Packing Clay (#04803) to the batter's box area and the mound. Apply Pro's Choice Red Infield Conditioner (#01514) to the entire infield, plate area, and mound. Rake this in until it is completely mixed with the existing surface. Repeat steps 1-3 in BOTH bull pen areas. Once steps 1-3 have been completed on the infield, survey the turf and replace any pieces that are worn out as needed. This school's program uses real grass so the damaged area is cut out and new sod is put in its place. After the infield and bull pen areas are completed, cover the plate and the mound area with M.A.S.A. Wind Weighted Tarps. Lastly, windscreens need to be addressed. These are to be rolled up from the bottom and secured to the top of the fence. This helps prevent harsh winds from damaging the windscreens. When it is appropriate to open your field after the winter break, simply cut the ties and allow the screen to hang to the bottom of the fence. Using M.A.S.A. Self-Locking Tie Wraps (#01646) to secure the screens will assist in the ongoing integrity of the screens.

 

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By following the above steps, the mentioned school earned a reputation as one of the top fields in the state to host games on. As simple as these steps seem, they go a long way in settling any field in for the off season.

If you would like any additional information regarding the full M.A.S.A. product line, please contact us and we would be more than happy to assist you. Have a great off season (if that really exists) and we look forward to meeting you at one of our many state-wide events coming soon.