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    Shelley Field        Carroll Field          J & M Field         TLC Field       To Do List

             2012 Field Descriptions & Improvements                 Return to Top

                                                        Shelley Field  (tree house field)                                                Return to Top

                                                   

    

   Notes :

  2 new lights mounted above home plate tree

  1 new light mounted on treehouse

  removal of trees from out field & foul

  2 new lights mounted on J & M LC pole

  graded & leveled new infield

  Illumined by the new lights

  All 9 new lights installed

 

  50 more tons, from home looking to center

      -  note 2 new lights on right field foul pole

  from right field looking down the line

      - 30 more tons to go until dead flat !

  from right center looking to 3rd

      - good view of cleared woods - no brush !

  from center looking to home

      - fence lengthened to 90 feet

      - most overhanging limbs removed

                                                

     Shelley field is our newest field, sponsored by Shelley Nursery and Greenhouse on Route 23 just outside of Waverly.

     It is located between the left field J & M fence and the woods behind.   It was added in fall 2011 on the fly to

     accommodate the 20 teams playing in the NWBA Slow and Fast Pitch Ohio State Wiffle Ball tournaments.

     The field entered its maiden voyage with relatively short fences - 75' to BOTH the left and right field foul poles,

     94' to the left center power alley, 86' to the right center power alley and 105' to center. These short porches are

     impacted by several overhanging trees in left field and a 16' tall right field fence (considering the 4' hill it rests upon). 

     Shelley field yields an average of  18 runs per game and 10 HRs total by both teams.  It's run output is average while

     its HR count was slightly higher than normal.   Base hits are easier to come by than on Carrol Construction Field,

     but much more difficult than on J & M field.   

 

     All 3 basic 2011 complaints concerning this field have been addressed and fixed.  1) The abundance of HR robbing

     over-hanging tree limbs has been reduced by 80%, 2) the up hill grind to 1st base has been eliminated by nearly 200

     tons of dirt making this almost level, 3) the veritable maze of saplings and thickets on the woods side preventing the

     retrieval of foul balls and HRs has been entirely removed.

     The newly graded and seeded infield has been mowed and the grass will be ready to go by opening day.

     Literally hundreds of small trees and a half dozen large trees have been removed from the outfield and in the woods to

     limit the impact of overhanging branches in play, particularly on home runs.   HRs hit in any direction will now have a

     much greater chance of flying thru unscathed. 

     The 3rd base foul line has been cleared of saplings to make retrieving foul balls easy and poison ivy free.

     The field is now illuminated by 8-400 watt metal halides and 2-1,000 metal halides, providing 420,000 lumens

     directly to the field with the over spill from TLC and J & M Yards assisting in the process.

     Currently lights have been mounted; 1) behind home plate to a locust tree that supports the tree house, 2) 2 lights are

     mounted to the locust tree directly to the rear of home plate, 3) the right field foul pole has 2 lights mounted in foul

     territory from the pole with remotely located ballasts at the bottom of the pole, 4) 2 lights are mounted on the rear of

     the pole located in left center field on J & M field.

     The power box has been mounted and energized on this pole also.  The last 2 lights are mounted to a huge locust

     tree just behind 3rd base down the left field line.   Wire strung between the power pole and the lights will complete

     the lighting project.

     The 14' tarp which formed the right field fence has been replaced by 2 6' tall sections of windscreen and a 6' tall

     windscreen now makes up the rest of the outfield fence.

                                                                Carroll Field  (front yard)                                             Return to Top

          

    

   Notes :

   Closeup of 4 new lights mounted on pole

      behind the green monster

  New pole behind green monster

  1st & 3rd base poles now have HID lights

      with ballasts remotely installed at base

 

                                                     

     Carroll field is named for Rick Carroll of Carroll Excavating , who graciously donated the dirt and grading necessary

     to level out this field.   By our count nearly 400 tons of dirt were required for this process.

     This field is a love / hate relationship.   Some teams love it, some hate it.   The green monster in left field is a mere 85'

     away, but it is a full 14' tall.   The right field fence is even closer - only 72' down the line but it is even taller - 12' of

     actual fence sitting on a 4' tall hill.   Center field is the longest of any field being 110' in length and 8' in height.  

     Against a good short stop, there are almost no hits to be had to left field here.   Singles can be had to right, especially

     off the fence and singles up the middle are readily available also.  The problem come when there is already a man on

     1st base.   Grounders to the 1st base side and up the middle result in more double plays than all other fields combined.

     Runners on 1st and 2nd and a ground ball to short results in automatic double play when the fielder steps on 3rd just a

     step or two away and relays to the mound for a pitcher's hand put out.  

     This field shrinks with each additional base runner.  The only way to score serious runs here is to hit HRs.  For some

     reason, even with the short fences, this has proven difficult for many teams.  

     Both foul poles for this field are 25' tall with American flags gracing their tops.

     Carroll field yields an average of 16 runs per game, with a spot on league wide average of 8 HRs per contest.  Many

      of the league's most shocking upsets have occurred here and the field requires a team of patience and opportunity to

     tame it and claim it as their own.  One thing is true about this field, rarely are there mercy rule games and contests

     invariably go down to the wire.

     As for improvements, Carroll Field has undergone a major lighting upgrade since the end of the 2011 season.   Halogen

     lights on each of the 1st and 3rd base lines have been replaced with 400 watt metal halide lights.   The lights on the

     2 poles located behind the green monster have been replaced with 2-1,000 watt metal halides and 2-400 watt metal

     halide lights.   This bank of 4 lights is mounted on a 40' pole.

     The 8 original halogen lights consumed nearly 56 amps and provided 260,000 lumens of light.   The new lights consume

     20 amps and provide 420,000 lumens of light, bringing the total illumination on the field to 500,000 lumens.   All that

     remains in this process to be done is to run wire underground to the pole. 

     For fencing, the fishnet utilized in center and right fields has been be fronted by 6' high windscreen.

     Some day we would like to widen this field an additional 8' down the 3rd base line.  Our estimate is that it will take 220

     tons of dirt to accomplish.  This would make base hits considerably easier to come by on this field and make it not so

     HR centric.

                                                                J & M Field  (driveway)                                                Return to Top

              

   

     J & M Field is the field located closest to the driveway just off the back porch.  It's perennial sponsors are Mike and

     Jill Bowers, done in memory of Jim and Margaret Driggs.   

     This field features a 12' tall right field fence of fish netting and windscreen.  This fence is shared as left field with

     TLC field.  It is 85' down the right field line and 102' to center field, where 7' windscreen and fish net complete the

     rest of the outfield fence to the left field line. 

     It is 90' from home to the left field foul pole - fairly short for a left field fence, but the fence drops back steeply to a

     depth of 102' at the light pole in left center field.  Most HRs on this field are directly down the left field line with

     literally dozens of near miss foul balls for each successful HR.

     Although the right field porch is very short, there are precious few HRs hit there due to the prevailing wind direction

     and the 12' fence height.

     On average J & M yields and average of 12 runs per game - the lowest of any of the 4 fields, even though it is the

     field with the most area.  To be successful here a team first must be solid on defence - in every field.  There is simply

     too much room to cover to not be solid and give up free passes to one side of the field.   Whereas borderline fielders

     can be hidden on the other fields by overlapping coverage, on J & M, due to the width and depth of the field, it is every

     man for himself.

     Small ball is the name of the game at the plate on J & M.   Teams average 4 HRs per game total on this field, less

     than 1/2 what is averaged on any other field.   After the sun goes down and the air gets heavier, HRs are as rare as

     honest politicians on this field.

     Both foul poles for this field are 25' tall with American flags gracing their tops.

     The only item possible remaining to be done on this field is the addition of 8' tall windscreen on the right field fence,

     which has proven unnecessary to this point because of the windscreen on the TLC field side.

                                                                TLC  (woods)                                                                  Return to Top

         

   

     TLC Field is the field located closest to the woods farthest from the house.   It's perennial sponsors are John

     and Sue Harper of TLC Oilube.    

     This field features a 12' tall right left fence of fish netting and windscreen, 90' in length.  This fence is shared as

     right field with J & M field.  It is 80' down the right field line and 102' to center field, where 7' windscreen and

     fish net complete the rest of the outfield fence to the left field line. 

     This field is widely hailed as the favorite field of most teams and for good reason.   The left field fence length

     combined with the prevailing wind direction make this a home run lover's dream.  TLC yielded 22 runs per

     game and 12 HRs per game in 2012, both nearly double the average of all other fields.  Nearly all league

     records for scoring have been set on this field.

     The field is wide enough to play small ball effectively to all fields.  Even the right field fence is easily reachable

     by both right and left hand batters.

     TLC field epitomizes the "go big or go home" philosophy.  If you can't put up 20 regularly, do not choose TLC

     as your home field. 

 

     TLC was improved in 2012 by eliminating much of the brush in the 1st base out of play area to make retrieving

     foul balls safer.   The first base is in continual reseeding mode as it endures significant traffic due to all the runs

     the field gives up.

                                  

     Return to Top

    That Which Remains - Setup Tasks for Season 2012

         J & M Memorial Field - items completed in orange                         General Items

         1.  Install new anchor pole in front of left center light pole          1.  Plug, Reseed, Fertilize J & M

         2.  Fill anchor pole with concrete                                                   2.  Plug, Reseed, Fertilize TLC

         3.  Replace flag on left field foul pole                                            3.  Plug, Reseed, Fertilize Carroll

         4.  Install left field foul pole                                                           4.  Fix Porta-John door

         5.  Fill right field anchor pole with concrete                                  5.  Service Porta-John

         6.  Install right field solid anchor pole                                           6.  Repair broken electric box

         7.  Attach right field fence to right and center field poles            7.  Install rubber protectors over boxes

         8.  Install new flag on right field foul pole                                     8.  Install bottom 2' of windscreen J & M

         9.  Install right field foul pole                                                         9.  Install bottom 2' of windscreen TLC

       10.  Attach guy wires to right field foul pole                                  10Spray 2-4-D on all

       11.  Install right field fence support pole                                       11Setup Irrigation system

       12.  Install center field solid support pole   

       13.  Attach guy wires to center field fence pole         

       14.  Attach 8' windscreen guy wires to solid support poles                 By Week  04/08

       15.  Erect left field fence                                                                 1.  String power line from LC pole to Shelley #1   

       16.  Erect and adjust left field fence                                               2.  String supply line from Shelley #1 tree to #2

       17.  Erect and adjust center field fence                                          3.  Reseed TLC football field fix

       18.  Install 1st & 3rd base foul lines                                               4.  Reseed TLC holes

       19.  Install backstop screen                                                            5.  Reseed J&M holes

       20.  Install baseline safety fence                                                    6.  Reseed Carroll holes          

       21.  Install outfield safety fence                                                     7 Extend left field foul pole on Carroll

       22.  Install outfield fence gates in left and right center fields       8.  Vegetation kill where appropriate

       23.  Install scoreboard                                                                     9.  Level Carroll home, seed & straw

       24.  Paint anchor pole yellow                                                         10.  Order windscreen for J&M, Carroll, Shelley

       25.  Paint right field foul pole yellow  

       26.  Paint center field foul pole yellow                                                 By Week  04/23

       27.  Paint left field foul pole yellow                                                 1.  Numbers 3 & 4 of J & M

                                                                                                                 2.  Numbers 7 - 18 of J & M                                          

 Return to Top                                                                                    3.  Numbers 3 - 8 of TLC    

                                                                                                               

         TLC Field - items completed in orange                                             By Week  04/30

                                                                                                                1Re-Engineer irrigation pump setup at pond

         1.  Install new anchor pole in front of left center light pole        2Install irrigation pump at pond   

         2.  Fill anchor pole with concrete                                                 3Install fire hose from pond

         3.  Replace flag on right field foul pole                                       4. Install sprinkler pump at LP tank 

         4.  Install right field foul pole                                                       5. Dig hole for Shelley Center field fence pole

         5.  Attach right field fence to guy wires                                      6Weld Shelley Center field fence pole eyebolts                                                 

         6.  Erect and adjust right field fence                                           7Install 5 eyebolts for Shelley center field fence           

         7.  Erect and adjust center field fence                                         8. Install Shelley center field fence                                      

         8.  Install 1st & 3rd base foul lines                                              9. Mow Shelley field with push mower 

         9.  Install backstop screen                                                       

       10.  Install baseline safety fence                                                        By Week  05/14

       11.  Install outfield safety fence                                                     1 Install backstop screen & scoreboard TLC                                      

       12.  Install outfield fence gates in left and right center fields       2 Install backstop screen & scoreboard J & M      

       13.  Install scoreboard                                                                     3 Install backstop screen & scoreboard Shelley                                                              

       14.  Paint anchor pole yellow                                                           4 Install backstop screen & scoreboard Carroll                                                        

       15.  Paint right field foul pole yellow                                               5 Construct 1 batter's box   

                                                                                                                 6 Construct 1 pitcher's box                                      

     Return to Top                                                                                     7 Finish wiring Carroll lights

         Carroll Field - items completed in orange

         1.  Remove halogen lights from 4 poles

         2.  Fabricate 1st base double light holder                                      Week  by 03/12-19

         3.  Fabricate remote ballast holder on 1st base pole                1.  Plug, Reseed, Fertilize J & M

         4.  Alter 2 halogen lights to be HID for 1st base pole              2.  Plug, Reseed, Fertilize TLC

         5.  Install new HID lights on 1st base pole top                         3.  Plug, Reseed, Fertilize Carroll

         6.  Install ballasts on 1st base pole                                           4.  Secure 3 loads dirt for 1st base line

         7.  Install and wire electric junction box for new lights            5.  Level 1st base line

         8.  Remove halogen lights from 4 poles                                    6.  Plant grass seed on infield, right field 

         9.  Fabricate 1st base double light holder                                 7.  Straw infield, home plate, right field

       10.  Fabricate remote ballast holder on 1st base pole               8.  Engineer, weld, paint light bracket #1      

       11.  Alter 2 halogen lights to be HID for 1st base pole             9.  Engineer, weld, paint light bracket #2

       12.  Install new HID lights on 1st base pole top

       13.  Install ballasts on 1st base pole

       14.  Install and wire electric junction box for new lights

       15.  Install new flag on right field foul pole

       16.  Install right field foul pole

       17.  Install right field fish net fence

       18.  Install right field 8' tall windscreen

       19.  Install center field fence support pole

       20.  Install center field fish net fence

       21.  Install center field 8' tall windscreen

       22.  Install 1st & 3rd base foul lines

       23.  Install backstop screen

       24.  Install right field out-of-play fence

       25.  Install left field out-of-play fence

       26. Trench from barn to edge of woods for new lights

       27. Trench from garage to 1st base light pole    (put on hold)

       28. Trench from 1st base to 3rd base light pole  (put on hold)

       29. Install wire from garage to 1st base pole      (put on hold)

       30. Install wire from 1st base to 3rd base pole   (put on hold)

       31. Install wire from barn to woods line

       32. Fill in trenches

       33. Make electrical connections at 1st base pole

       34. Make electrical connections at 3rd base pole

       35. Make electrical connections woods station

     Return to Top

    Shelley Field - items completed in orange

         1.  Dump and grade dirt for home plate

         2.  Dump and grade dirt for pitcher's mound

         3.  Dump and grade dirt for 1st base line

         4.  Cut down leaning tree in left field

         5.  De-limb trees in left field

         6.  Clear brush from 3rd base line

         7.  Plant grass seed on infield, home plate, right field

         8.  Straw infield, home plate, right field

         9.  Fabricate 1st base double light holder

       10.  Fabricate remote ballast holder on 1st base pole

       11.  Alter 2 halogen lights to be HID for 1st base pole

       12.  Install new HID lights on 1st base pole top

       13.  Install and wire ballast on 1st base pole

 

       14.  Fabricate right center light pole double light holder

       15.  Fabricate remote ballast box for right center light pole

       16.  Alter 2 halogen lights to be HID for right center light pole

       17.  Install new HID lights on right center light pole

       18.  Install and wire ballast on right center light pole

       19.  Install on off switch for new Shelley field lights on right center light pole

       20.  Modify current electric box to power new on / off switch

       21.  Fabricate home plate double light holder

       22.  Fabricate platform for home plate lights and ballast

       23.  Alter 2 halogen lights to be HID for home plate lights

       24.  Install new HID lights on home plate light platform

       25.  Fabricate remote ballast box for home plate light platform

       26.  Install and wire ballast on home plate light platform

       27.  Renovate a regular 400W and 1000W HID light

       28.  Fabricate platform for 3rd base lights

       30.  Install new HID lights on 3rd base light platform

       31.  Install and wire lights on 3rd base light platform

       32.  Fabricate batter's box single light holder

       34.  Alter 1 halogen light to be HID for batter's box light

       35.  Install new HID light on batter's box light platform

       36.  Fabricate remote ballast box for batter's box light platform

       37.  Install and wire ballast on batter's box light platform

       40.  Install right field 12' tall windscreen

       41.  Install center field fence support poles

       42.  Install center field home run fence

       43.  Install 1st & 3rd base foul lines

       44.  Install backstop screen

       45.  Install left field out-of-play fence

       46.  Build and carpet new batter's box

       47.  Build and carpet new pitcher's mound

       48.  Install scoreboard

       49.  Install new flag on right field foul pole

       50.  Install right field foul pole

     Return to Top