Construction and MaintenanceOf Baseball Infields

Baseball diamond prior to renovation. Photos courtesy: Van's Enterprises.

Same diamond following reconstruction and installation of sod.

16 Golf & SporlsTURF

INFIELD CONSTRUCTIONBy Marc Van Landuyt

Development of a quality field requiresproper design and construction, se-lection of high-quality soils, careful

turf establishment, and proper fieldmanagement after installation.

Each site is unique. Careful considera-tion of specific site characteristics, such assoil type, slope, drainage, and location ofexisting structures must be integrated intosite planning. Field design is usuallypredetermined in the guidelines set by theaffiliated athletic association, but these mayonly include field dimensions and mark-ings. More importantly, good field designreduces the risks of hazards.

Funding ultimately will deter-mine theattainability of any proposed construction.Each of five factors and their relative costsmust be weighed equally during initial plan-ning. They include: initial planning, fieldconstruction/materials, erection of siteamenities (bleachers, lighting, etc.), andsubsequent field maintenance and main-tenance equipment. Don't plan for aprofessional-level field if you won't be ableto afford its maintenance. Budget for thesecosts and then choose a plan that meetsyour needs and budget.

To put your plans into action, choose acontractor with the experience and equip-ment to successfully complete the project.Experience can be measured throughreference calls and on-site inspections ofsimilar projects. Ask how much ot the workwas done by the contractor himself and howsatisfied the organization is with the work.

The fields we will consider here are highschool and small college baseball infields.This pertains to site-specific soils, how todeal with them for drainage and turf estab-lishment, and the aspects of infieldmaterials.

Proper construction begins with usingthe right equipment. There are two types ofconstruction equipment. The first type iswhat I call key equipment, and includes alevel or laser and a grader. The level or laseris necessary to set the angles and checkthe grade properly. A lightweight grader isthe only machine specifically designed forleveling material and adjusting the grade tothe desired elevation.

The second type of equipment is calledhelp equipment, because it is extremelyhelpful during construction. It includessmall, lightweight loaders with enoughcapacity to move the necessary materialwithout damaging the finish grade. A landpulverizer (Gill pulverizer) keeps thematerial loose while grading and prepares

the seedbed. A lightweight roller is impor-tant in providing a firm surface withoutexcessive compaction. A landscape rake isexcellent for any handwork, because of itswidth and low surface weight.

Avoid using sod cutters, dozers, and trac-tors with attached implements. Sod cutterscut too shallow and only to the existing con-tour of the ground. Dozers and tractors withimplements are not as adjustable asgraders for leveling the surface.

Site construction begins with field layout.Working from the architectural plans orfrom permanent benchmarks, such asbackstops or drain openings, the field ele-vations are established and marked. Thesemarks indicate both the subgrade and thefinished elevation so the correct amount ofsoil can be removed or added.

Emphasize accuracy when removing theexisting soil to the designated elevations.The subgrade contour is more importantthan the finished grade because it providesfor even drying, a stable crown, uniformsettling, and lower maintenance over theyears. To prevent uneven subgrade com-paction, fill low areas with loose, consistentsoil spread in even layers.

'A soil mixture is prepared for the new turfareas before application. Blend the soil andamendments thoroughly and correct forpH. If sand is an amendment you are using,remember that the soil may already containsand. Check the sand content of the soilbefore determining the volume of sand youwant to add.

Apply the soil to the designated turf areasin even layers up to the indicated elevation.Blend the first few layers with the subsur-face material to avoid an interface whichmay cause drainage or rooting problems.Before the turf area is seeded or sodded,spread the infield mixture in the skinnedareas.

The most important consideration on abaseball infield is the skinned area surfacematerial. Infield mixes vary greatly andselection is primarily governed by climate,available resources, and preference of themanagement ... not always the players.Materials chosen should be safe. Avoidsharp, abrasive materials. If a material issharp, but aesthetically pleasing, it shouldbe used only on warning tracks orentranceways.

The skinned area should not be hard. Itshould be firm but loose. Apply the materialin even, consistent compacted layers four toeight inches deep. A definite line shouldexist where the soil mixture meets theinfield material. You don't want turf toencroach into the skinned area or looseinfield material spreading into the turf.

With a properly formed subgrade, suita-bly amended soils, and an accuratefinished grade, the field will have positivedrainage. This promotes optimal plantgrowth and minimizes disrupted play due torain.

If subsurface drainage was budgeted forduring initial planning, a slit-trench method

continued on page 18

Stakes indicate both the subgrade and the finished elevation.

Clay mixture is placed in basepaths, pitcher's mound and batter's box before the field is sodded.

Soil Is applied to designated turf areas in even layers, blending the first layer with the subsoil.

April, 1990 17

Baseball Infieldscontinued from page 17

should be chosen. Open trenches can beinstalled on both the- turf and the skinnedareas. For turf areas, cut narrow trenchesup to 1/2 inch wide and eight to 12 inchesdeep on three- to four-foot centers. Inskinned areas, the trenches should be twoto four inches wide and eight to 12 inchesdeep on four- to eight-foot centers. Thesetrenches can be filled with either a uniformsand approximately .5 mm or a calcinedclay product. If a calcined clay product isused, it can also be incorporated into thetop four inches of the skinned infield toimprove drainage there as well.

When drainpipe is used it should be thewrapped vertical type. Install it on theperimeter of the infield with varied patternsin the outfield. The open slit trenches willdeposit directly into these pipes, which inturn are connected to four- or six-inch roundmain drains on the edges of the field.Remember, do not install drainpipe underthe skinned area of the infield. Most infieldmaterials become compacted and sealedoff. The pipe will not receive water to helpplayability after a normal rainfall.

At this time the soil areas should be pre-pared for seed or sod. Always consult yourlocal seed distributor for the best seed mix-tures for athletic fields in your particularregion.

Remember, do not take short cuts to fin-ish a job quickly. The safety of the playingsurface is most important. With properplanning, construction, equipment, sup-plies, and maintenance any facility can looknice and be safe on a small budget. Stressthat the layout and construction of a fieldmust coincide with the available main-tenance equipment and budqet.

Editor's Note: Marc Van Landuyt, is vicepresident of Van's Enterprises, Ltd., Mun-delein, IL.

MANAGING A BERMUDAGRASS INFIELD

Arlington Stadium, home of the TexasRangers, has earned a reputation asone of the best fields in Major League

Baseball. Players, coaches, and othergroundskeepers are impressed by the con-dition of the bermudagrass field under thecare of Head Groundskeeper Jim Angleaand his crew.

However, they might be shocked to seethe stadium's field between home stands.That's when Anglea scares managementwith his renovation practices that leave thefield looking thin and brown ... but only fora few days. He's not guessing. After morethan six years with the Rangers, he knowshow the turf will respond.

In addition to theheight of the

bermuda, Angleapays close attention

to thatch andrunners.

Frequent vertical mowing is part ofAnglea's program to keep the 419 hybridbermuda growing at all times to make it playup to professional standards. "If a fielddrains properly and you keep the grassgrowing, you can have good turf," he con-tends. "But in the big leagues, you need totreat the whole field as if it is a puttinggreen:'

Anglea spoon feeds the bermudadepending upon the game schedule, spe-

cial events, and weather. Some months hemay apply two pounds of soluble nitrogenper 1,000 square feet, but he does this inquarter-pound doses. The day before ahome stand he will spray with a quarterpound of nitrogen mixed with iron for "a lit-tle extra push:'

The entire field is mowed daily, weatherpermitting, and the clippings are removed.With such a rich diet the turf can grow morethan 1/4-inch per day. If rain keeps themowers off the field for more than a day, thecutting height has to be raised. "The grassgrows more under canvas," he points out."If we don't raise the height of cut you cantell the field was scalped by that afternoon."Except for such occasions, the infield is cutbetween 3/8- and 1/2-inch with Jacobsenwalk-behind greens mowers.

In addition to the height of the bermuda,Anglea pays close attention to thatch andrunners. Based on the Rangers' schedule,the turf is verticut at least twice a monthduring the summer. "If the team is away foreight days, we'll put thatching reels on ourToro Greensmasters and thin the grasspretty heavily,"says Anglea. "If they're outfor four days, we do it lighter." As if that wer-en't enough, one of the walk-behind greensmowers is equipped with a groomer tolightly thin the infield almost every otherday.

The only disease problems that crop upat times are brown patch and pythium. TheArlington crew treats at the first sign ofbrown patch with Chipco 26019. "Everyoneon the crew knows what to look for and weare usually treating within an hour," saysAnglea. The crew is also on the alert forpythium whenever the tarp is removed,especially when it's humid. After sprayingcuratively with Koban one or more times, he

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In many cases, skinned infields can be recon-ditioned by mixing processed clay amend-ment into the top three inches of soil. The totalamount of amendment would be seven to 11tons per average infield or one 50-pound bagevery 60 inches.

SKINNED INFIELD RENOVATION

The amendment is spread evenly over theinfield with a drag. Photos courtesy: Aimcor,manufacturer of Turface.

A disk is used to mix the amendment with theexisting soil. After allowing the field to dry forone hour, the Infield Is dragged again tosmooth and level the surface.

turns to Subdue for preventative control.Twice a year the infield and sidelines are

aerified to soften the loam soil and toimprove drainage. All cores and debris areraked and removed. Anglea has found aer-ifying is also a handy way to control lips ofdirt in the turf. "We'll make two passes witha greens aerifier in slow gear, pick up thecores, then push the area down with a two-ton roller," he explains. "If you edge the dirtareas frequently and hose the dirt off thegrass, you don't need to use a sod cutter toget rid of lips."

Brad Richards, Anglea's assistant, isprimarily in charge of dirt work and pre-game preparations. "The goal is to have thefield ready the day before a home standstarts," says Anglea. "That way you havetime to correct any problems."

The dirt is worked and watered every day,whether or not the team is in town. Oneproblem Anglea and Richards have noticedoccurs when the team has been out of townfor a few days: The dirt gets loose with noone playing on it. So, for the first game of a

home stand, the basepaths are wateredand rolled to pack them down. Then a naildrag is used to loosen up the top 1/2-inchand blend in calcined clay as needed.

The turf is kept on the dry side for games.Any hot spots are hand-watered.

At the end of the season, Anglea and hisfour-man, year-round crew overseed thefield with perennial ryegrass. The reason isto make sure the field will be in perfect con-dition for the opener the following April.While 150 pounds of a blend of three differ-

continued on page 20

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20 Golf & Sports TURF

MANAGING A KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS INFIELDBy Greg Petry

Baseball Infieldscontinued from page 19

ent varieties would be enough for a stan-dard infield, the Ranger crew sows almost500 pounds. "On average, the 419 would begrowing by April," admits Anqlea. "But inthis area we can have late cold spells oreven snow in March. Overseeding is anextra touch that makes the field perfect forthe players when the season opens:'

By June, the ryegrass surrenders to thebermuda and Anglea's maintenance pro-gram, "We don't have a problem with tran-

Maintaining bluegrass infields requiresa combination of people manage-ment and agronomics. Although

bluegrass "heals" relatively quickly follow-ing stress, it cannot take unrestricted useplaced on it by scheduled games, practices,and special events. Whether the field isbluegrass or another species, guidelines orground rules should be established to con-trol its use. Cooperation and communica-tion must exist between the groundskeeper,those scheduling the field, and those usingit.

Kentucky bluegrass is characterized as a"cool season" grass but it must withstandextremely hot summer baseball seasons. Itforms a dense, smooth, dark green playingsurface ideal for baseball. Kentuckybluegrass spreads vigorously by under-ground stems called rhizomes to quickly fillin worn areas, The rhizomes also hold theturf together to help it resist damage fromtearing.

Irrigation is a must to achieve and main-tain a quality bluegrass infield. Often latespring and summer have high tempera-tures coupled with drought. Manybluegrass infields are installed with greatpride and expectations, only to deterioratebecause water is not available in sufficientquantities during critical periods of heatand drought. During the summer, whengame play is at its peak, rainfall is at itslowest level and temperatures are at a max-imum. The result can be fatal for abluegrass infield.

Therefore, when constructing an infield,don't even consider a pure bluegrass infieldunless an adequate supply of water is avail-able at the site. If installing an irrigation sys-tem is not feasible, consider a "skinned"infield until irrigation can be installed.

The growth characteristics of bluegrassrequire that an intensive maintenance beestablished. Proper irrigation, fertilization,aerification, and overseeding must beprogrammed on a regular schedule tomaintain quality bluegrass throughout theplaying season.

The maintenance program begins inApril with a soil test to check nutrients and

sition here," he explains. "For 81 games ayear, this field is the best we can make it"

The crew clearly shares his goal. In addi-tion to Richards, Randy Cummings, JohnKirchner, and Ron Masters are almostfanatical about details, from the straightlines in the mowing pattern to the matchingslopes of the mound on the field and thosein the bullpens. Arlington Stadium issmaller than some of its rivals. But visitingteams like to play there because of the field.It's enough to make all teams wish they hadbermudagrass in their stadiums.

soil pH. Kentucky bluegrass grows best ina pH range of between six and seven, Asthe crew begins edging and dirt work, apreemergence herbicide (Balan) is appliedto the turf.

In May, the infield is aerified twice withhollow 1/2-inch tines followed by treatmentwith granular sulfur as indicated by the soiltest. A slow-release 19-5-9 fertilizer is thenbroadcast on the field. Emerged weeds areknocked out with Trimec and the disease-control program begins with an applicationof Chipco 26019 for brown patch. DuringMay the irrigation system is checked,repaired, and adjusted, A twice-a-weekmowing schedule is put into effect usingreel mowers set at 13/4 inch.

As temperatures rise in June, a wettingagent is applied to assure deep and uni-form wetting of the soil and to help reducethe frequency of irrigation. Grubs aretreated with Diazinon and Bayleton isapplied for dollar spot control.

Today people are very environmentallyconscious of pesticide applications. There-fore consideration should be given to apply-ing pesticides only when necessary andonly at rates needed to control the problem.Consult a specialist before including pesti-cides in your program.

In July, humidity coupled with high tem-peratures requires close attention to irriga-tion and diseases. A half rate of wettingagent is applied and irrigation is scheduledonly to run in the early morning instead ofat night. Efforts to control brown patch, dol-lar spot, and summer patch are stepped upwith an application of Bayleton early in themonth and Daconil 2787 toward the end ofthe month. Fungicides are rotated to avoidany problems with resistance.

August is tournament time in our district'sparks. The turf is aerified early in themonth. Potassium and phosphorus areapplied as a 6-25-25 fertilizer before over-seeding with a mix of three Kentuckybluegrasses and three perennialryegrasses. We borrow a topdresser fromthe parks district's Bonnie Brook GolfCourse to apply a sandy loam for GroscheField, our main stadium. Any low spots are

touched up by hand. By tournament timethe turf is back in top shape. When the tour-naments are over, Banner is applied to getus through the remaining hot portion of thesummer.

Maintenance continues in Septembereven though use of the field slows. Whenthe weather cools, we aerify a third time andfertilize with a pound of nitrogen per 1,000square feet of 18-18-18 sulfur-coated urea.Mowing continues while irrigation is set tobe deep and infrequent.

Winter preparation begins in October.Another pound of nitrogen in the form of 27-3-12 with Nitroform and sulfur-coated ureais broadcast following aeration. Since wedon't have time to spoon-feed the fields likea golf course superintendent might spoon-feed his greens, we rely on slow-releaseproducts. At the end of the month Chipco26019 is applied for control of snow mold.

Winter preparation is completed inNovember by draining and blowing out theirrigation system. All accessories, such asfoul ball netting and bases, are removed forrepair and storage. Planning for the nextyear begins immediately. _

In addition to a monthly- schedule, abaseball facility needs clear-pregame andpostgame procedures. Pregame work iscentered around preparing the dirt andmarking the field. Postgame work is moreoriented toward the turf.

A thorough inspection after each gameor practice will help heal turf scars. Replacedivots immediately. Apply a handful of seed(pregerminated preferred) and topdress mixto scuffed areas and where divots cannotbe replaced. Turf areas in front of themound, the batters' boxes, coaches' boxes,and on-deck circles receive more wear thanothers. For this reason they need frequentaerification, overseeding and topdressing.Eventually, wear and tear may take their tolland sodding may be necessary.

Cooperation between the groundskeeperand those scheduling and using the field isessential to its season-long quality. Createa positive working relationship with playersand coaches. Educate the leagues, school,and park' departments regarding turfmanagement and field construction. Letthem know about the personnel and budgetconstraints you work under. They willrespect you and what you are trying toaccomplish.

Communicate with a liaison from thegroups and show them what it takes tomonitor the quality field they expect.Explain that fields should be rotated to givethem time to rejuvenate. If possible, prac-ticesor drills should be held on areas awayfrom the infield of "showcase" fields. Estab-lish ground rules for use with players andcoaches so they can share in the resultingquality of their home field.

Editor's Note: Greg Petry is Park Superin-tendent for the Waukegan Park District,Waukegan, IL, and a previous winner of theBaseball Diamond of the Year Award.

continued on page 22

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Pene-Turf soil treatment does what a wetting agent will do, but where thewetting agent stops, Perie-Turf continues. Pene-Turfworks on the real problem,compaction. Pene-Turf reduces the surface tension of soil water, causingcompacted soil to shift. Pene-Turf works several feet deep into the soil, resultingin increased pore space, improved percolation, and deeper water infiltration. Inaddition, Pene-Turf soil treatment requires fewer applications and isnon-phytotoxic.

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Baseball Infieldscontinued from page 21

MAINTAINING PITCHER'S MOUNDSBy Jim Kelsey

Maintaining a professional qualitypitcher's mound takes more than just sprin-kling some clay on the ground, raking it out,and forgetting about it. Properly maintain-ing a mound is an art, and there are prob-ably as many techiques as there are goodgrou ndskeepers.

Here are 11 points that will work for you:1. If the mound is too soft, recondition it.You can recondition the entire mound, thefront triangle, or just the landing area orwear spots around the pitching rubber.

2. Don't use the same material on themound and infield. What provides a welldraining and easily scarified infield won't befirm enough for the mound. Use a firm claymix.

3. The end result you are working toaccomplish is for the entire mound tobecome one solid, integral unit of com-pacted clay without any loose layers withinit. Otherwise the mound will continue tocrack until properly compacted.

4. When conditioning a sandy mound forthe first time, remove six inches from thearea to be worked to ensure a good basethat won't push out from underneath.

5. Create a bonding layer by mixing at

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least 1/2 inch of clay mix into at least the topone inch of old base. If not mixed, the twomaterials may crack where they interfaceand the mound will be difficult to compactproperly.

6. Wet and compact the clay mix in layerstwo inches thick on top of the bonding layeruntil you reach final grade. Use a heavymound tamper, and slam it down! If you getthe mix too wet, just add more dry material.Put a damp cloth over your tamper to pre-vent sticking, or tamp over a heavy plasticbag.

7. Get the right moisture content bymoistening mound material in a wheelbar-row, bucket, or outside pile, so that when ahandful is rolled into a ball, you can justbarely push your thumb 1/4 inch into theball. Cleats will be able to grab yet come offcleanly.

8. Scarify the top surface of the mound sothat you have 1/4 inch of loose material overthe very firm base.

9. For patching, sweep aside dry material,moisten wear spots, and tamp mound mixback in.

10. For a quicker-drying surface, themound can be covered with 1/4 inch of cal-cined clay or sandy infield mix. Be carefulnot to dilute the mound mix when makingrepairs.

11. Properly locate and contour themound. The top of the pitcher's mound isexactly ten inches above home plate. Thefront of the pitching rubber is 60 feet, sixinches from the apex (pointed end) of homeplate. Drive a stake at the proper distancefrom home plate in line with second baseand mark the correct elevation. This marksthe front and top surface of the pitcher'srubber.

The mound is constructed with a nine-foot radius from a point 18 inches in frontof the rubber. A flat area around the rubbershould extend six inches forward, 18 incheson both sides, and 12 to 24 inches behindthe rubber. The mound is not cone-shapedwith a peak in the center. Instead it has aflat top 64 inches wide and between 24 and36 inches deep starting 12 inches behindthe center of the mound. The slopes behindand to the side of the top are steeper thanthe slope in front.

Place a plastic bag over the wet clay to pre-vent it from sticking to the tamper.

If the base of the mound is the same ele-vation as home plate, the slope in front ofthe pitching rubber (allowing a six-inchplateau in front) is one inch per foot. Fre-quently the base of the mound is higherthan home plate to allow for infielddrainage. An adjustment in the slope of themound would then be needed.

Further information on baseball specifi-cations is available from the U. S. BaseballFederation, 2160 Greenwood Ave., Trenton,NJ 08609. The organization sells a bookletcalled "A Baseball Facility: Its Construction'and Care" for $5.00 plus postage. 0

Editor's Note: Jim Kelsey is president ofPartac Peat Corp., Great Meadows, NJ.

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