The Wayland varsi
ty baseball team will play its first home game of the season Thursday, April 20. The varsity softball team has yet to play on its home field.
School officials have insisted that there have been some minor physical problems that have been corrected and rainy weather has played a role.
Athletic Director Justin Wilson said, “The fields were recently redone, so there were some final touches that were required. They are good to go.”
However, some parents of baseball and softball players have said the reason for delay were an embarrassing lack of bases and the incorrect height of the pitching mound on the baseball field.
Varsity baseball coach Travis Wilcox said, “ As with any new playing field surface, we are at the mercy of Mother Nature in regards to our field. It’s important with a new playing surface that we allow it time to settle and mature before playing on it. Our field is now 100% ready to go and we are looking forward to the opportunity to host games on it this week.”
The baseball field has been reworked and improved since last year, but somebody forgot to nail down the devices that hold down the bases.
One parent commented, “I did hear that the company who did the fields forgot to put the base pegs back into the ground and that was part of the delay.”
Another parent said, “I understand it was just the varsity team that was concerned about a potential forfeiture, owing to a field that was non-standard mound height and then technically not sanctioned by the MHSAA.”
Both the varsity softball and baseball diamonds had work done and the “bases for the bases” were removed to update the infields. But then when that work was completed, no one could find the “bases for the bases” and the company could not finish the work, and thus the bases could not be re-installed.
One junior varsity softball game was played this week and coach Coralie Ritz Miller reported the condition of the field was fine.
Bases were not installed on the new junior varsity baseball field behind the junior high, but a jayvee game was played there last Monday night.
There were reports the mound on the new middle school baseball field was initially almost two feet high versus 10 inches.
Because there was a delay in finishing the varsity infield, the plan was to play varsity games temporarily on the middle school field. However, the mound was not to proper standards and so rather than forfeit games because of an improper field, the decision was made to move home games to away games.
The Wayland softball team’s first home game will be next Tuesday, April 25, against key league rival South Christian, which MLive.com has said is inching closer to overtaking the Lady Wildcats, perennial powers coached by Cheri Ritz.
PHOTOS: Cheri Ritz Travis Wilcox
