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TLC Field J & M Field Shelley Field Carroll Field
Field Descriptions Return to Top
TLC Field (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. It is the oldest of the fields, having had 100's of family wiffleball games played here long before we started our leagues and tournaments officially.
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. Both the average runs per game and HRs per game for this field were almost 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. Both foul poles for this field are 25' tall with American flags gracing their tops.
TLC was initially constructed in 2005 with dirt from the construction of Sam's Club. Over 400 tons of earth was dumped on to the site, leveled, de-rocked, seeded and strawed. My Nephews played a crucial role in this endeavor as they spent many hours assisting me with the summer long process. Thanks to Ben, Phil, Caleb, Casey, Lance, T.J., Levi and Janae for their indispensable help. TLC would not be the field it is today without their back-breaking efforts.
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 shares its right field fence with the left field fence of TLC field. The short left field fence is an illusion as the fence quickly recedes to 102' by left center field just 25' away. Nearly all HRs hit on this field are directly down the left field line as even long blasts can hang up for easy outs to left center and center fields. Probably more foul balls are hit on this field down the left field line than all other fields combined.
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 13 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 must 1st be solid on defense - 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 here.
The 2nd key to being successful on J&M is to have left handed batters or righties who can go opposite field. Due to the large area of the field, shots to the right field corner are almost always doubles and occasionally become triples - the only field where this is possible.
Both foul poles for this field are 25' tall with American flags gracing their tops.
This field was constructed in 2005 (with TLC). Stadium lights were added in 2006.
Carroll Construction Field (front yard) Return to Top
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 15+' tall. The right field fence is even closer - only 78' 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 107' 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 develops when there is already a man on 1st base. Grounders to the 1st base side and up the middle here 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.
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.
Carroll Construction Field or CC as it is known, was constructed in 2009. Several renovation projects have been undertaken to widen the field, improve the grass and in 2011, replace all halogen lights with stadium lights. The only potential improvement left is 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. We had the opportunity to accomplish this in 2012 but decide to hold off for fear it would fairly dramatically alter the dynamic by making base hits considerably easier to come by - thus denuding iut of its feast or famine reputation.
CC Field has the only impediment or in play anomaly at Legends Park. Inhabiting in foul territory just beyond left field in the beloved Plinko tree. Balls hit into this tree are live and can be caught, or even dumped back into fair play. There are generally lots of opportunities to field these unpredictable ricochets due to the nearness of the green monster and it is always hilarious to see teams try to guess where the balls are going to fall out of the tree at - only to be 1 step out of place. There are probably 100 attempts for every successful catch, and lots of laughs in between.
Shelley Field (tree house field) Return to Top
Shelley field is our newest field, sponsored by Shelley Nursery and Greenhouse on Route 23 just outside of Waverly. Justin Shelley, owner of the Nursery was responsible for providing the 120 tons of dirt required to level the field.
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 has the shortest fences to both left and right fields of all fields at Legends Park. These short pokes are somewhat offset by the 16' tall fence in right and the immediate jog the left field makes to 95'.
Shelley field is a combination of all the fields in the manner of play which excels on it. Small ball is easier to play here than on TLC or CC, and it is easier to hit HRs here than on J&M and CC. Hits to right field are plentiful due to the elevated right field fence, but the field mirrors CC in that the field narrows considerably once runners are on base. HRs down the line are fairly easy to claim, but like J & M if the ball is hit to the power alleys or dead center it takes an absolute crush to go yard.
Both foul poles for this field are 25' tall with the right field pole sporting an American flag.
That Which Remains - Setup Tasks for Season 2013 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 10. Spray 2-4-D on all 11. Install right field fence support pole 11. Setup 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 1. Re-Engineer irrigation pump setup at pond 1. Install new anchor pole in front of left center light pole 2. Install irrigation pump at pond 2. Fill anchor pole with concrete 3. Install 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 6. Weld Shelley Center field fence pole eyebolts 6. Erect and adjust right field fence 7. Install 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 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 |
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