Field Turf Not Ready--Season Home Opener Looks Doubtful

[bluepower]

Here's the latest word from A-D Ron Prettyman on the need for warmer weather to finish installing turf and doing concrete work:

The guys are off to great start. It is likely that we will not get the game in on March 2 against Indiana. We need 4 straight days of over 40 degree weather to finish the field turf and the concrete work. We haven’t had 24 hours of over 40 degree weather it seems like for several months. We may need to reschedule the home Indiana University date, but we really need to try to get the games in on March 5-7 if at all possible. Stay tuned. As soon as a decision is made it will be on our web site.

 

[SycamoreinTexas]

Yea. I highly doubt the home series agasint Western Michigan will be played. Don't think mother nature is going to cooperate with the construction crew. Give them some props..They've worked their asses off for the past 6 months.

 

[bluepower]

Yes, the forecast for next week is showing highs in the upper 30's to 40 degrees. No four day stretch of above 40-degree weather. The historical average for this time of year is 44-degrees.

 

[SycamoreinTexas]

Would they just cancel the series or ISU go down to Tennesee Martin and play?

 

[TreeTop]

I sense a "I told you so" post from Morgan.

(just a joke)

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

I sense a "I told you so" post from Morgan.

(just a joke)

I guess not... Morgan pay's the price for being open with the forum! :meditate:

 

[BankShot]

Just go to the NTH LL diamonds and construct a 50' OF wall like Rockville and learn to play the trajectory! Has Rockville HS still got that 250' RF "green monster?" I've seen 'em all while umpiring FHSAA & IHSAA.

-Salem HS in S. IN has a 10' ground slope toward the CF fence.

-Brevard Co. (FL) schools have osprey nests on top of their light poles.
-Some of the FL Christian 1A schools play on the same diamonds as the softball team and actually "pack the mound & pitcher's plate" minutes prior to the game.
-Cocoa Beach HS is located on the edge of the Banana River - once had an alligator crawl under the OF chain link fence - ya should've seen the glow in the players eyes while they tried to chase it out the gate!
-I'll never forget the IF diamond @ Fountain Central HS...compacted Ag Lime that was hard as concrete...tore (burned) the pants of every runner that attempted slide, and the one's that were caught in a 1/2 slide almost broke their ankles.

Some of you might have similar stories?

 

[SycamoreinTexas]

Summer ball. In St. Louis. Played a game at like a public park. 260 down left field..440 dead center..420 in right..went downhill a little bit..huge tree in right center on the field..

 

[bluepower]

Coach Heller said in this morning's Tribstar that the field won't be ready for the game on Wednesday against Indiana. I don't see how it'll be ready for the weekend either based upon the need for warmer weather. First day forecast to be over 40-degrees in Wednesday (41-degrees). Thursday forecast at 42 and Friday at 43. With no precipitation expected, maybe they can tack down enough of it Wednesday and Thursday to make it playable?

 

[TH_Sycamore12]

Just go to the NTH LL diamonds and construct a 50' OF wall like Rockville and learn to play the trajectory! Has Rockville HS still got that 250' RF "green monster?" I've seen 'em all while umpiring FHSAA & IHSAA.

-Salem HS in S. IN has a 10' ground slope toward the CF fence.

-Brevard Co. (FL) schools have osprey nests on top of their light poles.
-Some of the FL Christian 1A schools play on the same diamonds as the softball team and actually "pack the mound & pitcher's plate" minutes prior to the game.
-Cocoa Beach HS is located on the edge of the Banana River - once had an alligator crawl under the OF chain link fence - ya should've seen the glow in the players eyes while they tried to chase it out the gate!
-I'll never forget the IF diamond @ Fountain Central HS...compacted Ag Lime that was hard as concrete...tore (burned) the pants of every runner that attempted slide, and the one's that were caught in a 1/2 slide almost broke their ankles.

Some of you might have similar stories?

Just think, you're chasing down a fly ball then bam! you see a gator in the outfield.

 

[BankShot]

Has anyone seen Grandma?

 

[bluepower]

In a radio interview today with ESPN Sports radio 1300 in Terre haute, Coach Heller is confident that the field will be ready for the Tennessee-Martin series. The game against Indiana will likely be rescheduled for later in the season as the field at Indiana is likely not ready for this coming Wednesday. Pray to the weather gods for a warm enough/precipitation-free week to get the work done. He said the parking lot will not be done and some of the walkways will be gravel instead of concete. Just about everything else is finished condition.

 

[bluepower]

Here's the final paragraph from the Sunday article on gosycamores.com. It concerns the fact that the Indiana game will be postponed to a later date and says the Tennessee-Martin series will "tentatively" begin friday:

"The Sycamores (4-3) were scheduled to open the 2010 season at home on Tuesday, March 2, against the Indiana University Hoosiers, but due the weather conditions in the Terre Haute area, the field will be unplayable for that date. The game with IU will be attempted to be rescheduled for later in the season. With the postponement of the Indiana game, the Sycamores will have this upcoming week off, tentatively opening the 2010 home season on Friday, March 5, at 3:00 p.m. against the University of Tennessee at Martin."

 

[bluepower]

The weather is almost cooperating for finishing the laying of the field turf. Ron Prettyman had said they needed four days of dry, above 40 temperatures to finish the job this week. He has the dry conditions...but temps are forecast to be marginal. Upper 30's through Wednesday...low 40's through the weekend. Let's keep our fingers crossed that the Tennessee-Martin series isn't cancelled or moved as we already have too few home games on this year's schedule to enjoy!

 

[bent20]

Just think, you're chasing down a fly ball then bam! you see a gator in the outfield.

What is she doing to that animal? No wonder alligators are so pissy.

 

[bluepower]

The article regarding the cancellation of the game against Indiana appearing on the Indiana Baseball Web Site says the game will not be re-scheduled this season. Too bad as it was neat to see us dominate in-state schools last season! Here's the link to the article:

http://www.idsnews.com/blogs/hoosierhype/?p=10801