maall: ginty baseball field maintenance manual€¦ · reference guide for the preparation and...

Issued: March 2017

MAALL:

Ginty Baseball Field Maintenance Manual™

MAALL: MORRISTOWN AREA AMERICAN LITTLE LEAGUE

PO BOX 2201, Morristown, NJ 07960

MAALL.net

http://www.maall.net/

G I N T Y B A S E B A L L F I E L D M A I N T A I N E N C E M A N U A L

Table of Contents

Field Maintenance

Objective………………….........................................................................1

Individual Sections..............................................................…..................2

Section 1 –Gameday / Practice Checklist.………………………………….…......2

Section 2 – Detailed Information…………………………….….……………..……3

Section 2.1 – Equipment List………….....………..…....................................3

Section 2.2 – “How to”…..………………………..…..…………………………4

Section 2.2.a – Prepare the Infield, Pitcher’s Mound and Plate Area

Section 2.2.b – Chalk the Batter’s / Catcher’s Boxes and Base / Foul Lines

Section 2.2.c – Install / Remove Bases (1st, 2nd, & 3rd Bases)

Section 2.2.d – Install the Pitching Mound Rubber (AA Division ONLY)

Section 2.2.e – Recovering from Rain

Section 2.2.f – Tarping the Mound (Ginty field 1 only)

Section 2.2.g – Ginty 3 setup (46/60 and 50/70 field dimensions)

Section 2.3 – Additional Resources….....……………………………………11

Section 2.4 – Storage Locations. / Map...……………………………………12

Section 2.5 – Keys / Locations………......….………………………………..13

Section 3 – Contact info……..…...……..………………….....….........................14


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MORRISTOWN AREA AMERICAN LITTLE LEAGUE

MAALL PO BOX 2201 Morristown, NJ 07960

MAALL

T

Ginty Baseball Field Maintenance Manual

OBJECTIVE

he objective of this manual is to provide a general

reference guide for the preparation and maintenance

of the Ginty baseball fields. This manual includes

information that should be used only as a resource

in the preparation of the playing fields and does not

represent the only means and methods of field

preparation. The information in this manual is

located on the MAALL website and is accessible

to all league administrators, coaches, and assistant

coaches to ensure that our baseball fields are

properly prepared for both games and practices.

If you find unsafe conditions or something is not working properly, please either correct it or

contact the Manager, Field Maintenance (see section 3 of this manual – Contacts) by text /

email.



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Individual Sections

Section 1 – Gameday / Practice Checklist

Below is a checklist of activities that need to be completed before and after all baseball games & practices. For games, the home team takes

the first base dugout and is responsible for pre-game field preparation and post-game clean up.

GAME / PRACTICE CHECKLIST:

# PRACTICE / GAME PRE / POST EQUIP. / ITEM ACTIVITY EQUIP. LOACTION

1. Game Pre Base lines & Batter’s /

Catcher’s Boxes

Chalk the base lines and batter’s / catcher’s box. If foul lines are

not painted, contact Manager, Field Maintenance (see below) Shed

2. Game Pre Game balls Obtain game balls Snack Stand

3. Game Pre Umpire’s payment Obtain payment Snack Stand

4. Both Pre Bases Install

*Maintenance Room:

Ginty 1 only

Shed: Ginty 2 & 3

5. Both Pre Infield /Outfield Walk the field / remove any large debris (rocks, branches, etc.) NA

6. Both Pre Infield Use the rake(s) before and after use. Fill in areas with low spots

(home plate, pitcher’s mound, slide marks at 2nd base, etc.) Maintenance Room

7. Both Pre Infield Hose with water, if a hose is available Shed

8. Both Post Bases Remove and store on the base caddy in the appropriate area *See Above

9. Both Post All areas Clean all garbage from the bench and field areas All

10. Both Post Pitcher’s mound tarp

(Ginty 1 only)

Place tarp over pitching mound to cover (no stakes / extra

weights required) Ginty field 1

Ron Newport (Manager, Field Maintenance): 201-874-4780 / [email protected]


mailto:[email protected]


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DETAILED INFORMATION

Section 2 – Detailed Information

Section 2.1 – Equipment List

The following is a list of equipment needed to prepare the field for practice and / or games.

When finished using a piece of equipment, please place it back in the location specified. If you

find a piece of equipment out of place, please return it to the location specified above.

* NOTE: Pitching mound tarp is not stored, only moved off the mound when not in use. Do

not move the tarp onto the grass as a prolonged stay on the grass will kill the grass.

# EQUIPMENT STORAGE LOCATION

1. Bases Maintenance Room: Ginty 1 only

Shed: Ginty 2 & 3

2. Chalk box

(batter’s / catcher’s box, base lines)

Shed and Maintenance Room (multiple

sets)

3. Drying agent / material Maintenance Room: Ginty 1 only

Shed: Ginty 2 & 3

4. Squeegee & infield rake(s) including flat

bladed for removing standing water Maintenance Room

5. Drying pillows (for drying standing water) Maintenance Room: Ginty field 1 only

Shed: Ginty fields 2 & 3

6. Pitching mound rubber (AA division only) Coach’s Locker

7. String reel (to chalk base / foul lines) Maintenance Room

8. Pitching mound tarp (for Ginty field 1 only) NA*

9. Movable pitching mound (for Ginty field 3

only) Ginty field 3

10. Water hose(s) Shed



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Section 2.2 – “How to…”

Prepare the Infield, Pitcher’s Mound, and

Plate area

1. Equipment needed: Rake / If holes are too deep to be filled in by raking

alone, a broom, additional clay, and a tamper may be required. Contact

Manager, Field Maintenance (see section 3 of this manual – Contacts) and

watch the video below before attempting to fill in deep holes.

2. Process:

a. Walk the field to check for low spots / holes

b. Rake the infield to fill in any low spots or noticeable holes. Make sure

to rake approximately 2ft away from any grass area

c. If a hole on the mound or plate area is too deep to fill in by raking alone

and requires additional clay, follow the steps below:

i. With a broom, sweep away any loose material down to the

hard, packed material underneath

ii. Dampen the area with a little water

iii. Place a thin layer of new clay material and tamp. Repeat

process until the desired height is attained. Use a broom to

cover the area with clay or top dressing material, then dampen.

3. Additional resource(s): Groundskeeping (Pt 1) - Fixing holes in mound/plate

areas


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6y2S5MvmXs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6y2S5MvmXs


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Chalk the Batter’s / Catcher’s Boxes and Base

Lines

1. Equipment needed: string reel, peg / nail to hold string in the ground,

chalking machine, chalk, batter’s / catcher’s boxes template

2. Process:

a. Anchor a strong piece of string or light rope from the apex of home

plate (back point of home plate) to the outfield grass with the string

touching the outside edge of the base (1st / 3rd base)

b. Lay the batter’s box template in the proper position beside home plate

c. Using your finger or some other object, trace the template completely

so the template outline can still be seen when the template is removed

d. Remove the template and chalk the outline of the batter’s box and

catcher’s box using the chalk machine

e. Chalk the base line, following the string from the front corner of the

batter’s box to 1st / 3rd base. Note that the chalk line goes to inside of

the string. Do not get any chalk in the grass, as it will kill the grass.

f. 1st / 3rd base foul lines on the grass are typically painted, not chalked,

by the town’s parks and recreation department. If the lines are not

painted, contact Manager, Field Maintenance (see section 3 of this

manual – Contacts).

3. Additional resource(s): Groundskeeping (Pt. 3) - Lining the field (although

shown in the video, chalking the outside of the running lane should not be

completed)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFVchpkYTfY


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Install / Remove Bases (1st, 2nd, & 3rd Bases)

1. Equipment needed: Base caddy, bases, base digging tool, base plugs

2. Process:

a. Remove plugs from the base pocket holes located in the appropriate

area of the infield

b. Clean out any dirt remaining inside the base hole(s) using the base

digging tool

c. Insert the stem of the base(s) into the appropriate base pocket hole(s)

d. Replace the plugs after each game. Plugs should be stored on the

base cart during the game and replaced at end of game

3. Additional resource(s): Little League Game Day Field Preparation - Base

Installation (video time 1:40 – 1:57)

Install the Pitching Mound Rubber (AA

Division only)

1. Equipment needed: portable pitching rubber

2. Process:

a. If a pitcher is unable to consistently reach home plate, the portable

pitching rubber should be used to reduce the distance to home plate

b. The location of the portable rubber should be between the permanent

pitching rubber and 35ft from home plate. The final distance should

ultimately depend upon the safety of the pitcher, as well as the pitcher’s


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdGdzZ1t00o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdGdzZ1t00o


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ability to reach home plate consistently. The portable pitching rubber

can be adjusted as needed

c. To place the portable pitching rubber, drop it on the ground and step

down on it until it is flat and level with the ground

Recovering from Rain

1. Equipment needed: Squeegee, flat-bladed rake, drying pillow(s), drying agent

/ material

2. Process:

a. Contact Manager, Field Maintenance (see section 3 of this manual –

Contacts) before attempting to remove any standing water and dry the

field

b. If attempting to dry the field, remove as much of the standing water as

possible by squeegeeing or raking it away. Try not to disturb too much

of the clay underneath the puddle

c. After squeegeeing or raking away as much standing water as possible,

use a drying pillow to absorb any remaining water. Wring the wet pillow

out on the outfield grass as needed. Continue to use the drying pillow

until either the pillow will not soak up any more water or all the water

is completely absorbed. Use additional pillow(s) as necessary

d. After the standing water has been removed, sprinkle the drying agent

onto the area where the puddle was until the entire area has been

appropriately covered and the water has been removed

3. Additional resource(s): Groundskeeping (Pt. 5) - Recovering from rain


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO1WIdr-tI4


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Tarping the Mound (Ginty field 1 only)

1. Equipment needed: Weighted tarp

2. Process:

a. After each game, cover the pitching mound with the tarp (weights are

included in the tarp, so no additional weight or staking is needed)

b. When not in use, make sure not to not place the tarp on the grass

Ginty field 3 setup (46/60 & 50/70 field

dimensions)

1. Equipment needed: Base plugs, base caddy, bases, base digging tool, long tape

measure, string reel, portable pitching mound (not to be confused with the

portable pitching rubber for AA division)

2. Process:

a. Bases

i. Locate the base plugs in the infield for the desired field

dimensions. There are rubber plugs for both the 60ft and 70ft

base set ups:

1. 1st & 3rd Base - both bases have a white, spray-painted

line on the fence to indicate where the 60ft and 70ft

base peg is located

2. 2nd Base – Visually search the area of the infield where

the base peg should be located. If unable to locate the

peg, use the long tape measure and measure from the



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apex of home plate (back point of home plate) to

where the base should be located:

a. 46/60 peg is 84ft 10 ¼ inches from the apex

of home plate (back point of home plate)

b. 50/70 peg is 99ft from the apex of home plate

(back point of home plate)

ii. Once located, remove the base plug(s) from the base pocket

holes that match the desired field dimensions

iii. Clean out any dirt remaining inside the base hole(s) using the

base digging tool

iv. Insert the stem of the base(s) into the appropriate base pocket

hole(s)

v. For the base/distance not being used, leave the peg inserted in

the ground anchor during the game. Cover it with a layer of

dirt

vi. Plugs should be stored on the base cart during the game and

replaced at end of game. Replace the plugs after each game

b. Pitching Mound

i. Set the bases up prior to setting/squaring the movable mound.

Typically, 3 or 4 adults are needed to reset the mound

ii. Use the large tape measure and base string for distance and

square set-up:

1. Distance: The mound can be moved to accommodate

either the 46ft or 50ft pitching distances. Pitching



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rubbers have been put into the ground underneath the

moveable mound to be used as guides. To set the

mound to the desired distance, line up the back of the

mound with the front of the appropriate pitching

rubber

a. 46ft pitching set up – using the apex of home

plate (back point of home plate), measure 46ft

to the front of the mound rubber. Use the

base string from the apex of the plate to the

middle of 2nd base to square the mound

b. 50ft pitching set up - using the apex of home

plate (back point of home plate), measure 50ft

to the front of the mound rubber. Use the

base string from the apex of the plate to the

middle of 2nd base to square the mound

2. Square - Use the base string from the apex of home

plate (back point of home plate) to the middle of 2nd

base to square the mound

3. Additional resource(s): see diagrams below



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Section 2.3 – Additional Resources

The links below will take you to additional groundsekeeping videos and are for informational

purposes only. Before attempting any of the groundskeeping work shown in these videos, please

contact the Field Maintenance Manager (see section 3 of this manual - Contacts).

Provided by Little League on YouTube.com:

1. Groundskeeping (Pt. 2) - Removing the "lip"

2. Groundskeeping (Pt. 4) - Maintaining the "skin" area

3. Groundskeeping (Pt. 6) - Mowing


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfE76A8V1HQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGmWdEmS9f4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_OmazFKF4s


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Section 2.4 – Storage Locations / Map

LOCATIONS SHOWN:

Baseball fields: Ginty 1, Ginty 2, Ginty 3

Snack Shack

Storage Shed

Coaches Closet

Maintenance Room

Batting Cages

G1/2/3

G1

G2

G3



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Section 2.5 – Keys / Location

Storage Shed and Coaches Closet keys will be given to coaches prior to the season. All keys will

be kept in the locations listed below. For more information regarding keys including accessibility,

availability, etc., contact Manager, Field Maintenance (see section 3 of this manual – Contacts).

KEY LOCATION

Storage Shed Given to new coaches prior to the Season

Coaches Closet Given to new coaches prior to the Season

Announcer’s Booth Coaches Closet

Maintenance Room Coaches Closet

Snack Shack Coaches Closet

Bathroom Snack stand (left of door on hook)



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Section 3 – Contacts

NAME TITLE PHONE EMAIL

Ron Newport Manager, Field Maintenance

201-874-4780 [email protected]

Dave Bush President 973-886-3996 [email protected]

Ed Sullivan VP Operations 201-650-0044 [email protected]

Billy Andrinopous Manager, Snack Stand 973-722-0287 [email protected]






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