my kid is playing there this weekend so I was double-checking the schedule and saw that he is playing on Field 2. I figured JRHS was hosting so Field 1 would be their field and Field 2 would be somewhere in the neighborhood, but no they are right there back-to-back. That must be nice.
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Wattsboro,
Sending you a PM Dialog about this weekend.
Back at you.
my high school had a different 2 field system. the softball field was in deep cf so when we took bp, all the girls had to wear helmets and 6-7 of us had to protect them. it was more of a 3 field system as the football team practiced in the OF in the fall. dealing with that along with maneuvering around the sinkhole at ss really gave us a homefield advantage.
The field closest to Robious Road was the original varsity field. It looks nice from a distance, but is in fact pretty rough in spots, prone to bad hops for infielders, does not drain well, and also at certain times of day puts the sun directly in the faces of batters, catchers and umpires.
The former site of a scrub field -- sometimes called the JV field but really previously used more by a local Little League for practices -- was scraped and became the site of what is now a very fine varsity facility. Coach Schumacher spearheaded a tremendous fund raising drive to get this built wholly without taxpayer funds. Play started there near the end of the 2008 season. It helped with raising money that the team at that time was on its way to the second of back-to-back AAA state titles. Numerous D1 players including 3 future MLB draftees in the 2008 class alone.
Later, Coach Schu and the parents/boosters committee they put together raised still more to add lights, plus the clubhouse/restrooms/concessions building behind home plate, which if you ever go inside it will blow your mind.
Overall it's a top notch facility, on par with some of the very upscale private school facilities like those at Collegiate or STAB. About the only thing you wish that could've been done better was, the cross bars on the backstop seem forever in your line of sight from the stands. But not to worry, a lot of folks end up congregating under the overhang behind home plate anyway!
Will definitely be checking it all out and looking forward to playing there. Heading to UVA Sunday...the boy has played at a couple of schools like Radford and Winthrop, but first time on the field there so should be a fun weekend.
Midlo - not sure if you noticed, the JV field at JRHS was re done last year. I think it was laser graded... essentially a brand new surface. 1 could make argue that the infield is actually nicer than the Varsity field. So, no more bad hops. No more rough spots.
And as an over all facility, its incredible. Locker rooms & coaches offices are way nicer then many college facilities. Truly incredible.
Only facility I've ever visited that can offer a smoked salmon "burger"!
Rich
I should add that many of PIS's video clips that he often posts on the commitments threads were shot at James River, so you can get a look at the big building at least from his camera angle.
Rich, does L.C. Bird still sell crab cake sandwiches? I have to admit though, I've never been brave enough to order seafood from a high school concession stand!
Rich,
I agree the JRHS JV field is a pretty darn good field. I think the fences aren't as deep as the Varsity field, and the backstop isn't deep. There isn't a good place to watch a game unless you want to stand or watch the game from the road. JR is fortunate to have two very nice fields.
Midlo,
I've been going to Bird baseball games since 2006 when my oldest played JV in 8th grade. I don't recall them ever selling crab cake sandwiches. They may have considered valet parking using students from other sports, but then thought twice. 
You never got the sales pitch from Big Karl's dad?
Midlo,
I guess I was fortunate to miss those sales pitches as he was busy coaching first base the last few years my middle son was in the program.
FWIW.....Just the mention of "Big Karl" brings back a vivid memory. That boy hit the ball the highest and farthest I've ever seen a baseball hit. It went over (yes, over!) that tall pine tree in left field at Bird. It landed on the far end of adjacent softball field. It was with a BESR bat (pre-2010) but I will never ever forget how hard that ball was hit. Everybody who saw it, I guarantee will never forget it.
Saw that kid hit a 280' homer as a 10-year-old Little League All Star. Sorry things never really got to where I felt they could have for him. Wonder what he's up to now?
