Best Softball fields and facility

[GeneralsDad]

I vote Beekman

 

[CARDS]

Marathon Fields in Findlay has three really nice ones the two large fields are nice just not softball size and the last time I was up there one had a grass infield. There are plenty of great viewing areas, concessions, restrooms, parking hotels etc. The park they use down the road is not bad as well.
Pickerington Central/North, have some nice facilities and would be in my top 3.
Expressway Park Milford when they have the 200" fences up they would be hard to not have in a top 5. plenty of concession area, good concessions, large restrooms five well maintained lighted fields right off the highway like Marathon. Like a lot of the parks warm up area is small parking is tight but adequate.
Beaver Creek Rotary Park would not make my top 5 but they do a good job putting on events, decent food and restrooms. The field set up is a little of an issue for me. Too many foul balls going from field to field I bet we averaged 7 per game a few weeks back.

 

[mike_dyer]

I liked the tournaments that the team played in there, but I wouldn't call the fields in Orrville nice. The park itself had lots of shade and space, I liked that, but the outfield on one of the fields has to be elevated 8 or 10 feet higher than home plate. The people who run it do a great job of taking care of the fields in between games. If you run a tournament that's the benchmark.

Marathon Diamonds in Findlay is nice, but I have seen kids take 2 bases on passed balls there. What is it, around 20 feet from the back of the plate to the net?

Pickerington Central was nice. You can watch a game without worrying about being hit with a foul ball.

Victory Park or whatever it is in North Ridgeville has ok fields, and if my kid was playing beer league slowpitch whatever that would be up there at the top.

John Bishop park in Whitehall was a good place to play.

 

[Westler33]

No one likes the turf at Berliner park in Columbus?

 

[wvanalmsick]

Beekman Fields at Ohio State, home of the Stingrays Tournament.

 

[dannyboy]

Someone at Orrville told us that they are replacing all the backstops after this years event. That will certainly move them up. John Bishop had just completed a renovation, and it was nice.

My vote is Central. The nets, concessions, and level of competition we see are top notch.

 

[joboo1drew]

No one likes the turf at Berliner park in Columbus?

When there is rain, yeah. When it is hot, no.

 

[CARDS]

No one likes the turf at Berliner park in Columbus?

Turf not so much unless it is a cool day or there has been a lot of rain. They do a good job up there IMO. Fields are in good shape 200' fences, have plenty of warm up area, parking, restrooms, concessions. Security is a little bit of an issue but we have never had any problems.
The thing that would put them in the top 5 is Thurmans best burgers around.

 

[Miller]

I liked Marathon. Great viewpoint for spectators. Turf fields at Berliner too hot. I had a catcher have blisters on her feet after a weekend tourney there.

 

[HITTER23]

Turf no so much unless it is a cool day or there has been a lot of rain. They do a good job up there IMO. Fields are in good shape 200' fences, have plenty of warm up area, parking, restrooms, concessions. Security is a little bit of an issue but we have never had any issues.
The thing that would put them in the top 5 is Thurmans best burgers around.

Schmidts bahama mamas........

 

[CARDS]

Schmidts bahama mamas........

Yep, we try to hit them too when we are up there.

 

[JoeA1010]

My favorite as a high school, travel coach and now college recruiter is Pickerington Central. Fields are kept nice, nets protect everyone and I love that the four fields are within steps of each other. The proximity of the fields to each other gives Central a great atmosphere for tournaments and high school districts and regionals. Parking is plentiful and close to the fields and Pickerington does a good job of maintaining the complex. Traffic on Rt. 256 is the only negative.

I haven't been to Orrville, but I always liked Rotary Park in Beavercreek, Beekman and some of those private parks in Cincy that nobody uses any longer for fastpitch as far as I know.

 

[CARDS]

those private parks in Cincy that nobody uses any longer for fastpitch as far as I know.

Expressway Park, River City West (old Rumpke), Great American Bally Yard (old Eggelston) and Kolping are nice parks that still hold some Fastpitch events.
Only Expressway would be in my top ten though because the others do not have 200" fences or enough warm up areas.
Most use their slow pitch umpires or boys baseball umpires that at times can be an issue.
Fan safety and viewing areas are good. Large Concessions and Restrooms, play areas for small kids have protective netting and with 4 to 6 fields they can have larger events in one location.
Expressway park is the only one of the Cincy super parks that set the fields up for ladies fastpitch (unless one started this summer).
Expressway has the Fall USSSA Southern State and the Smokey Baker in the summer.

 

[CoachTEA]

I agree on the concessions at Beavercreek, but nothing beats carnival food at Orrville Fire in the Sky.

Trust me, Drew knows food!!! LOL

 

[CoachTEA]

Expressway Park, River City West (old Rumpke), Great American Bally Yard (old Eggelston) and Kolping are nice parks that still hold some Fastpitch events.
Only Expressway would be in my top ten though because the others do not have 200" fences or enough warm up areas.
Most use their slow pitch umpires or boys baseball umpires that at times can be an issue.
Fan safety and viewing areas are good. Large Concessions and Restrooms, play areas for small kids have protective netting and with 4 to 6 fields they can have larger events in one location.
Expressway park is the only one of the Cincy super parks that set the fields up for ladies fastpitch (unless one started this summer).
Expressway has the Fall USSSA Southern State and the Smokey Baker in the summer.

CARDS - I agree Expressway is a nice facility, but the parking is a nightmare and I *hate* paying admission fees AND being told "no coolers". Please TDs choose one or the other, I know you need to make money and I don't begrudge you on that topic --- just be fair!

 

[HITTER23]

Expressway Park, River City West (old Rumpke), Great American Bally Yard (old Eggelston) and Kolping are nice parks that still hold some Fastpitch events.
Only Expressway would be in my top ten though because the others do not have 200" fences or enough warm up areas.
Most use their slow pitch umpires or boys baseball umpires that at times can be an issue.
Fan safety and viewing areas are good. Large Concessions and Restrooms, play areas for small kids have protective netting and with 4 to 6 fields they can have larger events in one location.
Expressway park is the only one of the Cincy super parks that set the fields up for ladies fastpitch (unless one started this summer).
Expressway has the Fall USSSA Southern State and the Smokey Baker in the summer.

By far my fav when i played was Eggleston. They had a deck on the roof of the main building that was up in the trees and would be 20 degrees cooler up there. (plus they sold beer)

 

[CARDS]

By far my fav when i played was Eggleston. They had a deck on the roof of the main building that was up in the trees and would be 20 degrees cooler up there. (plus they sold beer)

I remember; when Kelly’s sports bar was there back in the 90s it rocked, Live bands Friday nights and they had a full menu, Fall bon fires etc.
It is still a great place for men’s slow pitch and boys baseball.

Field 4 dugouts are cramped but they do have a shelter behind the dugout for fans at that field and no place has an upper deck like that with the field/river views.
Throw in the kids netted play area and the adult fenced off Corn Hole Area…If someone could get them to splurge on some temp fencing they make the top 5 list.

 

[CoachTEA]

By far my fav when i played was Eggleston. They had a deck on the roof of the main building that was up in the trees and would be 20 degrees cooler up there. (plus they sold beer)

Hitter23 - I hear ya, but I wish beer isn't sold during youth events. I am not a prude and I *love* a good cold one (or 3 or 4) after playing or coaching, but alcohol seems to escalate the "Jerk" in some folks and we less of that, not more.

 

[HITTER23]

Hitter23 - I hear ya, but I wish beer isn't sold during youth events. I am not a prude and I *love* a good cold one (or 3 or 4) after playing or coaching, but alcohol seems to escalate the "Jerk" in some folks and we less of that, not more.

I was talking about back when i played, not youth events.

 

[LADY_KNIGHTS]

Since we just held out tryouts at Avery Park in Dublin I have to give them a thumbs up. The fields are better than any I have ever played on. Nice restrooms and a play area for the kids away from the fields and lots of parking. Not sure why they don't hold many tourneys there.

The Marion RVBFY fields are very nice as well and Lynn does a great job with the concessions there. They are constantly updating the complex and it gets better every year.

The tourneys Bev Bilger holds down on the fields in Loudonville are great as well. The fields are well maintained and the concessions are very good as well and at all the fields there is plenty of warmup area and shade.