The baseball and softball fields at the Fairfield Middle School are undergoing a significant upgrade this spring, with new fencing and backstops being installed at both facilities.
According to Fairfield Activities Director Jeff Courtright, the project began last spring and is being completed this spring. The most notable improvement is the replacement of traditional chain link backstops with netting, along with new fencing around both fields. Each field came in at approximately $70,000.
Softball head coach Bob Bradfield is pleased with how the project is coming together. “The new black fence with the orange top looks really great,” he said. “They aren’t done with the backstop area yet but I am sure the whole field is going to look a lot better than what we had.”
Baseball head coach Josh Allison said the upgrade will benefit everyone who uses the complex. “We’re looking forward to getting the new backstop completed at the baseball/softball complex,” Allison said. “I think the netting style backstop will be an improvement for not only the players, but also for the fans watching the game.”
The sentiment is shared by community members as well. Fairfield supporter and grandparent Dan Bowers said his grandsons Grant and Ethan came home from baseball practice talking about the changes. “The black nylon net is much easier to look through,” Bowers said. “Most of the ballparks that Fairfield has away games at have this form of backstop and we always comment on wishing Fairfield had this and now it’s happening. I appreciate the school board for authorizing this huge improvement to both the baseball and softball fields.”
Photo by A.J. Roe.
