News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Outlaws players work on their new infield.
Thanks to a $2,000 donation from the Cyrus family, the Outlaws baseball team now has an infield that is in tip top shape and no longer poses a safety threat for players.
Due to wind erosion, the infield was below grade and, according to Coach Steve Hodges, situations came up on the field where safety became an issue. The erosion had created a lip between the grass and the dirt and edges were exposed.
Hodges explained what that meant to players in a game: "If the ball hit that area it became a safely factor because the ball is not predictable. Ideally, there should be no transition between the dirt and the grass."
The Cyrus' donation fixed the problem. Sandstone, a heavier soil which contains some clay, was brought in from the coast and used for the infield project because it doesn't erode as fast as other soil compositions.
Before spring break the dirt was delivered and the team scheduled a workday. Brett Hudson brought in his tractor and leveled the dirt out. The field was thatched, edged and trimmed and players took their rakes to the infield for the final touch.
"The kids take pride in their field," said Hodges. "And younger teams use the field in the summer so they benefit, too. A lot of people come into this town and they might not look inside the schools but they notice the fields. It's a visible statement about how our community feels abut our youth. It's very heartwarming."
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