Diamond Upgrades

High School Baseball and Softball Infields Improved

BY: Josh Helmer

Rainouts and makeup games will mostly be a thing of the past, beginning this spring. Norman Public Schools partnered with Hellas Sports Construction to install four state-of-the art infield turfs at Norman High and Norman North for the district’s baseball and softball programs.

In addition to countering Oklahoma’s unpredictable weather, the hope is that these upgraded facilities would encourage greater participation from student athletes and enhance the spectator experience.

“We wanted to get out in front and be on the leading edge in regards to something that gets people’s attention. It’s a win-win for all and a better overall product,” T.D. O’Hara said, NPS district athletic director.

Hellas installed its Major Play turf, which is designed to simulate the natural bounce and roll of a ball like on a natural grass infield.

“It’s our top of the line fiber. We do a lot of neat things with it by changing the pile heights, the tallness of the blade, depending on what area of the field we’re simulating,” David Fisher, Hellas’ Oklahoma business development manager, said. “For instance, if we’re simulating a clay area, we shorten the pile height to make the ball move quicker. If we’re in a grassy area, we raise the height to help the ball slow like on natural grass.”

Fisher worked for 27 years as Yukon athletic director, so he understands what NPS athletics will enjoy on turf.

“We’re always so excited at Hellas whenever we can bring this type of quality surface to any school district. They’re playing on a collegiate-type surface. I know what it means to parents, stakeholders and student athletes to be able to upgrade your facilities like this and get onto a consistent surface,” Fisher said. “It’s tough in the fall and the spring sometimes trying to play baseball and softball with the weather we deal with around here. It’s great to be able to know that five minutes after it quits raining and there’s no lightning in the area that you can get on the field and play.”

One of the other benefits is less field maintenance. Norman North head baseball coach Brian Aylor said having turf has removed two hours of daily field maintenance.

“It’s taken a lot off the responsibility of the coaching staff and the players in regards to the before and after of every day. It’s allowed me to spend more time coaching and working with players instead of having to work on a field,” Aylor said.

It’s changed practice for the Timberwolves, too. Now, instead of worrying about tearing up base paths or pitching mounds, they can practice without that concern.

“We’re able to do multiple base runners at one time. You can put down two or three home plates and have guys running, because you’re just working on a surface, you’re not working on grass and dirt,” Aylor said. “You’re tearing your mound up consistently doing pitching and fielding practice. Being able to get out there on the turf, you don’t have to worry about the damage you’re doing to your field because it’s the same as it was when you got on it.” The renovations also make NPS athletics a more attractive destination for future in-season tournaments and as a neutral-site postseason venue.

“It’s the new wave and the new way of doing things. We’re one of the first ones on the west side to be able to do that and I think that it’s already generated a lot of talk across the state in regards to playoffs as a neutral site which brings things in for our community. Teams from the outside want to come in and play on that. The community of Norman benefits from that as well as each site and the district,” O’Hara said.

The turf upgrades continue a distict-wide series of facility renovations. NPS athletics recently replaced the turf and added a video board at Harve Collins Field. They have built concession stands and storage areas for softball as well as new underground irrigation systems for the practice fields.

“We’re really proud of the strides we’ve made… as far as what all we’ve done to make our facilities better and encourage more kids and more people to come out and support our programs. That’s not possible without support of the community and support from the district administration. We certainly appreciate them understanding the key role that athletics plays in the overall educational process,” O’Hara said. -BSM