FieldScience
in the construction process were assembled to provide their particular expertise in the project. Those involved were: the coach/field maintenance supervisor; the athletic director; the landscape architect; and me, the consulting construction con- tractor. For a few different reasons including budget, it was decided that an engineer was not required for the project and the coach/field maintenance supervisor, Mark Fletcher would be serving as general con- tractor on the job. Based on the combined input from
>> NO COWS on this infield.
Mark and the athletic director, the architect developed the footprint for the field, in- cluding dugouts, warning track, backstop, fencing etc. Mark and I took soil tests, eval- uated the existing topsoil and chose an in- field mix that was compatible with the level of maintenance he would provide. The mix was about 75% sand with about 1:1 silt to clay ratio. Tuckahoe Turf Farms in Ham- monton, NJ was chosen as supplier for the bluegrass sod we would be installing. Mark also lined up an irrigation contractor to in- stall the irrigation and quick connect be- hind the pitcher's mound. A mason was chosen for the dugouts and the retaining wall. A fencing contractor would be in- stalling the backstop and perimeter fencing.
THE INFIELD GETS A PASSING GRADE Literally every infield I have seen that is
>>A WALL was constructed to elevate home plate 24" and create an acceptable grading plan.
>> Above left: CLAY BRICKS were installed in the pitcher's mound and home plate. >> Above Right: 6" of topsoil was applied to all turf areas.
constructed in the corner of a multipurpose facility has a problem with home plate washing out due to the prevailing slope. For this reason we decided to elevate home plate 24" by means of a wall directly behind the back stop. Along with this a diversion was designed around the outfield radius of the proposed infield to divert the prevailing flow of surface water around the infield. By elevating home plate 24" we were able to create a grading plan with a level center line and approximately a 1% slope to 1st and 3rd base that continued beyond the infield. I believe 1% to be the optimum slope for a baseball infield at this level of maintenance and play. It's enough slope to get the water off the infield turf when internal permeabil- ity of the root zone isn't sufficient. 1% slope on the infield skin provides good sur-
22 SportsTurf | January 2012
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