Goodrich’s athletic department, with an assist from their own baseball program, has taken a step to improve the quality of their varsity baseball field.
The Goodrich school board, at its Aug. 22 meeting, approved the purchase of a new sprinkler system for the varsity baseball field. The winning bid was $10,938.
Goodrich athletic director Al Martus said the system should be installed within the next month so the field can be ready for the start of the 2006 baseball season.
About half of that money, at least, will come from the fundraising efforts of the Martians? baseball program. Goodrich varsity baseball coach Bob Foreback said the team has sold Buick Open tickets for the past two years, and has raised between $5,000-7,000.
‘It’s a good deal for everyone involved,? Foreback said. ‘The Buick Open gives money to local charities. If you buy the tickers from us, it’s only $20, while it’s $35 at the gate.?
Goodrich athletic director Al Martus said the system will cover the entire outfield and infield, which is about three acres.
He also said the Goodrich athletic department’s share of the cost of the new sprinkler system will come from money raised at tournaments the district has hosted.
Martus said in previous years, members of the Goodrich maintenance crew had to manually water the infield, while at the same time hoping there was enough rain to take care of the outfield grass.
‘This is one thing I fell can help the school district be freeing up our maintenance people,? he said. ‘It takes a couple hours per day to keep the field watered.?
Foreback said he hopes to plant some new grass where there are dead spots in the outfield, and then begin to water the field before winter comes.
‘I’m very excited about it (the new system),? he said. ‘We’ve only had the field for a couple of years. It’s in its infancy.?
Once that is planted and the new system is in place, Foreback said the field should be ‘three to four times as good as it is right now.?
‘It will be a nice place to catch a game,? he said.
In the future, Martus said he hopes to install new sprinkler systems for the varsity soccer field as well as the football practice field. He said the varsity football field already has a sprinkler system in place.