Originally Posted by Coach_Sampson:
Thank you for the responses... I'm not a fan of the sliding pit configuration with a natural grass field but it is what I have to work with since the AD wants it that way to "reduce rain outs"
I think what your AD is going to find out, and it shouldn’t take too long, is that cutouts on a grass field is going to cause other problems beside too many rainouts. The soil grass needs isn’t infield dirt, and because of that will hold water much more than standard infield dirt. So if there’s a rain and you decide to play, it won’t take very long before the baselines turn into mud where the fielder’s play, and where the running traffic is. When that happens, you’ll have a lumpy field that will cause bad bounces and very likely twisted ankles.
The best way to stop rainouts because of the infield dirt, is to have a tarp. After that, make sure there’s good drainage under it, and that’s a good draining material is used, and there shouldn’t be many problems unless the dirt isn’t level.