laflippin hit it on the nail.
Even the best fields seem to lack the basics of mound maintenance and materials composition. And you’d think- after years of play, up and down the competitive latter, some one would state the obvious - “what a pile of junk!”
A very close friend of mine volunteered a considerable amount of time and money re-building a first class ML mound, with cover. I assisted in spec’s and what for.
After it was completed, I drove by one day after a bad rain storm on my way to the store and low and behold the cover was gone, the surface was completely washed away, deep holes from lack of any kind of reasonable care were apparent, and all in all, his work and money was a big waste of time.
It seems that the public parks and rec employees got bent out of shape becuase they weren’t paid to do the work, the users of the ball field felt as if the fees that they were being charged didn’t require them to do even the smallest thing after using the field -and this included every Little League Incorporated team, Legion, AAU, Babe Ruth, Mickey M, Connie M, and every other youth ball going. High School freshmen, JV, and varsity included.
I know the money it takes to gather a bill of material for that mound - try $800 bucks, and that’s dealer cost becuase of friendships. Delivery, labor was also donated - and for nothing.
At this stadium/park it’s right back to were it was - I know because I drive by it from time to time.
It’s a shame, I know. But over the last twenty years or so, I’ve notice a “me-myself-n-I” mindset by so many in youth baseball. Even the simplest things like picking up all the water bottles and other trash after the games is hit and miss. Around where I travel anyway.
A club that my son use to play for when he was very young, was gutted for players by parents that pulled their sons off the field so they could play other sports- right in the middle of an inning. Needless to say the games they gave up were nothing compared to the lessons in selfishness and the lack of commitment.
In any evenbt, perhaps a posting a made a while ago might be some assistance.
Mounds like one below will do little to assist your work. Deep holes and poor material composition will require a lot of attention and care on your part, nearly before and after every pitch.
Basically, and I’m sure you already know it, holes and poor material compositon are a pain - and I mean that. So, do the best you can in attending to these conditions.
Here’s a suggestion. This not a one-step-solves-all, but at least it will help you cope.
take an iron garden rake or your spikes and smooth out the surface until you have a reasonable amount of stability. In additon to “prep’g” your surface your also giving your eyes the appearance of landing on something that will not distract your attention from form/posture and delivery. And as much as you might think that your visual witness isn’t all that important with respect to what your eyes view and your mind thinks - it does. So, even though the surface may not be 100%, at least your eyes are telling you that you have some degree of stability -just when you’ll need it the most.
I wish I had a better answer for you. But, this problem is one that’s shared by even the best communities and all becuase of choices that are made season, after season.
Coach B.
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