Low Cost Little League Field  Pro’s Choice Sportsfields Products

Understanding How to Improve and Maintain a Baseball Field

Areas of a Typical Baseball Field  The areas of a baseball field can be organized as follows:  Outfield grass/foul areas  Infield grass/soil  Skinned area and base paths  Pitcher’s mound & home base area  Warning track and fence

Areas of a Typical Baseball Field

Outfield Grass and Foul Areas  Turf and surface improvement:  Fertilization: 1-3 lbs nitrogen per M per yr.  Fill in the holes by hand: use local soil  Mow the grass properly (2-3 inches)  Aerify only if compacted (pocket knife test!)  Gently roll in the spring  Overseed bare areas in spring and fall  Water? Be careful starting this!

Infield Grass and Foul Areas  Turf and surface improvement:  Fertilization: 1-3 lbs nitrogen per M per yr.  Fill in the holes by hand: use local soil  Mow the grass properly (1-2 inches)  Aerify only if compacted (pocket knife test!)  Gently roll in the spring  Overseed bare areas in spring and fall  Flatten the lip!  Water if possible!

Skinned Area and Base Paths  Raise the level to match infield grass  Grade the area flat  Blend in calcined clay  Roll it in the spring  Water it (Be careful here!)  Eliminate outfield lip!

Pitcher’s Mound & Home Plate Area  Add, grind and shape (hand work!)  Add in gumbo clay  Edge the turf  Add water to firm and condition  Cover when not in use

Warning Track and Fence  Kill and remove all weeds  Grade and level with the turf  Slope away from the field

Example Project: St. Matthew School field (Pony League)  Costs:  SoilMaster (5 tons, delivered)1,500  Gumbo blocks (10, Pro’s Choice) 35  Local heavy clay delivered free  Local soil delivered free  Machinery use free  Labor 40 hours free

The infield “soil” arrives…wet!

Rake..dry..shovel..rake..dry..shovel

The clay soil layer is flat!

Base paths must be hand raked

It all comes down to hand work!

The calcined clay arrives!

The calcined clay is raked into the top inch (by hand)

Hand raked calcined clay!