Which high schools have the best softball diamonds?

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Member

• Apr 16, 2009

• #1

In honor of all the rain we've had lately, I would like to start a thread about the best fields to play on at the high school level. Being new to this, I would be interested in knowing the chances of playing a game at your school after it has rained. Does your school have brick dust; do you have a great grounds crew; or are you fortunate enough to have tarps for your fields or is your field completely underwater at the the slightest hint of rain? Feel free to share information about your JV fields also, since these are often the red-headed stepchild of the high school softball world. It seems like at some schools the varsity may play, but the JV game will be cancelled or moved to another field.

Rain, rain go away. I think this is the first time I've seen sunshine in a week.

 

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• Apr 16, 2009

• #2

There are many excellent fields all across Ohio. It would be hard to say which one is "best" but as far as playable goes I think that a couple of things come into play. Number one the fields must be constructed well, and maintained properly. Number two, you need a crew that will do whatever it takes to get the field in safe playable condition on game day. Every year I see games canceled mainly because no effort at all was made to get the field in playable condition.

Our season is so short and literally every day counts. I think that every attempt should be made to play every game possible.

 

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• Apr 16, 2009

• #3

We have excellent drainage. ( All new drain pipes under field). Field is open to the wind and brick dust. We can play when most cannot. As Rich pointed out in a short high school season this is important.

 

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• Apr 16, 2009

• #4

Ours has farm tile that was then doubled and a red lava rock top. We play all our home games if we have a half hour drying time. And in light rain it never gets muddy. And the lava rock doesn't turn that while uniform red! lol

 

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• Apr 16, 2009

• #5

I'd go with Genoa and Fostoria.

 

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• Apr 16, 2009

• #6

Lima Bath has a beautiful softball field. One of the best around!

 

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• Apr 16, 2009

• #7

Monroe high school in Michigan has the nicest high school field I have seen in fact its nicer then most MAC schools.

But the field is clay and doesn't appear to hold up well to rain.

So you can sit in those stadium style seats behind the backstop and watch the field dry lol.

 

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• Apr 16, 2009

• #8

Central Ohio fields that seem to be playable after rain are Dublin Coffman, Worthington Kilbourne, Upper Arlington, Bishop Hartley, and Bishop Ready. These fields have brick dust and from what other's have posted I gather that in Ready's case, they have a good grounds crew.

 

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• Apr 19, 2009

• #9

Westerville North has a beautiful field. They have put a lot of work into their facilities.

 

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• Apr 19, 2009

• #10

Holland Springfield has a new diamond this year. 2 different times visiting coach made statements like

"This diamond is better than most MAC school diamonds"

The grass still needs to fill in more and they need to add a "full scoreboard" (which will be wireless and added to rightfield) finish up the hitting cage with a cement foundation and astroturf.

The Field has a 6 ft fence at 200ft. 2 brick dougouts fully enclosed field. (No talking to your kids during games) there is no way to speak to your kids in the dugout. 2 bullpens one on each side. A hitting cage on the home teams side. The back stop is regulation (what I was told). It is about 25ft deep. You do not want wild pitches on this diamond. Some speedsters could possibly take 2 bases on an pass ball. The back stop is made of the netting that is used by the Detriot Tigers. No fencing at all makes up the backstop. They also will be adding a pad at the bottom of the backstop 4ft high.

A 3 bay concession stand a 36 player locker room for the home team. Along with nice restrooms. A sound system in which they play music in between innings and before games. They also anounce the players as they step to the plate.

 

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• Apr 19, 2009

• #11

A few others in NWO are:

Top Notch

Clyde HS
Genoa HS

Honorable mention

Whitmer HS

 

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• Apr 19, 2009

• #12

SW OHIO - MASON HIGH SCHOOL HAS THE BEST FACILITY - opening this season - we sit over 500 in the stands with beautiful grounds (not quite finished, but close) the diamond is clean and we have tarps for the rain. brand new locker room nicer then most colleges - everyone needs to come see this stadium!!

 

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• Apr 20, 2009

• #13

Upper Arlington's field is pretty nice. Can't hate those bathrooms built into the dugouts.

 

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• Apr 20, 2009

• #14

I have to put Highland Sparta in there.

 

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• Apr 20, 2009

• #15

Whoever plays today...

 

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• Apr 21, 2009

• #16

Springfields new complex is nice. It has a good atmosphere with the Baseball teams practicing on their diamonds during a softball game.

 

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• May 2, 2009

• #17

Liberty Union in central Ohio must have nice fields. Based on the postings in the score threads, they always seem to get in a game when nobody else does.

 

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• May 2, 2009

• #18

Independence hands down.

 

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• May 3, 2009

• #19

Amherst's Sliman's Diamond

 

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• May 3, 2009

• #20

Tealtown. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
I agree with Mason being the best High School field. Doesn't get any better.

Best complex I've seen is Expressway park in Milford.