Penn Township Athletic Association

AFTER GAME/PRACTICE RESPONSIBILITIES

Must Be Followed After Each Game or Practice!!!

a. Remove the bases and plug the holes with the foam plugs/base box plugs.

b. On shared Softball/Baseball fields only, remove the pitching mound and place it in foul territory in the outfield.

c. Rake and return the topdressing that has migrated into the grass areas surround the infield back into the infield using the leaf rakes located in the dugout storage sheds. Alternatively you can attempt to use a blower (if available) to accomplish this task.

d. Repair low spot areas in the infield by:

i. Using a broom located in the dugout storage sheds to brush back the topdressing from the damaged or low lying infield area and the surrounding area
ii. Using a rake or knife, score the underlying DuraEdge
iii. With a sprayer or watering can, moisten the DuraEdge
iv. Add new DuraEdge dirt (the dirt mound is located behind the outfield shed) and tamp down until a flat and a complete repair is made
v. Moisten the newly repaired area
vi. Brush back the topdressing over the repaired area

e. Using equipment found in the dugout storage sheds, rake or hand drag the outer 2 feet of the infield dirt. The Batter’s box area (and Pitching mound areas) should be brushed or matted and never nail dragged.

f. At each base location rake the topdressing and DuraEdge back into place:

i. Do NOT rake from the base or baseline towards the grass.
ii. At 1B, you will typically rake from 2B back towards 1B as you are returning the topdressing that was pushed out towards 2B from runners leading off.
iii. At 2B, you will typically rake from 2B back towards the 1B bag as you are returning the topdressing that was pushed towards the 2B bag from runners stealing.
iv. At 3B, you will typically rake from 3B back towards 2B as you are returning the topdressing that was pushed out towards 2B from runners stealing AND you will typically rake from Home back towards 3B as you are returning the topdressing that was pushed out towards Home from runners leading off.

g. Repair the batter’s box clay area (or pitching mound clay areas) by:

i. Using a broom to brush back the topdressing from the damaged or low lying batter’s box (or pitching mound) area and the surrounding area ii. Using a rake or knife, score the underlying DuraPitch
iii. With a sprayer or watering can, moisten the DuraPitch
iv. Add new DuraPitch clay (located in bags in the dugout shed or outside of the outfield shed) and tamp down until a flat and a complete repair is made
v. Moisten the newly repaired area vi. Brush back the topdressing over the repaired area

h. Using the steel screen drag mats, drag the entire infield area WITH BASES REMOVED AND ALL BASE HOLES PLUGGED. The drag pattern should be varied each day. Try to avoid dragging from an inside out approach (pitcher’s mound to grass edge) as this is the normal migration of topdressing and following this pattern too often will cause lip issues, an uneven infield, and sparse topdressing locations. If you don’t know what was done previously, default to an outside in approach (ending the drag at the pitcher’s mound). Stop the screen dragging if the sections become clogged. Clear the clogs and continue dragging.

i. Cover the home plate area and catcher’s area with mats (and cover any clay pitching mounds with a tarp).

j. Broom out each dugout to get any gravel, dirt, and topdressing that has accumulated on the floor. Remove any trash and bring any left behind items to the lost and found area of the concession stand.

k. Prior to returning the tools to the dugout sheds, broom the storage shed floor and brush off the dirt and debris from the equipment used prior to returning to storage.

Any major field issues should be reported to the PTAA Board Immediately via email [email protected].